Two giants in the world of Japanese culture are joining forces with a Chinese streaming giant.
On Friday, Chinese streaming site iQIYI announced that they are working with Japanese animation studio Tezuka Productions and game developer Success. The three companies will work together to produce a pair of Chinese animated productions.
Specifically, Success and Tezuka Productions will produce on animated adaptations of a pair of Chinese works:
- Voice of Fox (comic book)
- The Demonic King Chases His Wife (web novel)
The two works are part of a larger initiative within iQIYI. The streaming company aims to become the production base for China’s animation industry, and seeks to release seven animated titles in the near future. The company will produce an animated adaptation of Ma Boyong’s Whales of Four Seas, which is due in 2018.
iQIYI is no stranger to the world of Japanese co-productions. In 2016, the publisher co-produced an adaptation of GREE’s Seisen Cerberus game.
The title, which was released outside of Asia as Cerberus, was helmed by Nobuhiro Kondo (Nobunagun, Sgt. Frog) at studio Bridge, with Mana Uchiyama serving as assistant director. Gō Tōgetsu was in charge of character designs on the project, while Hiroshi Oonogi (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Kekkaishi) took charge of series composition.
iQIYI streamed the title under the name War of Dragon Heart. Crunchyroll streamed the series in North America, and describe it as:
Sword and magic rule in the continent of Kuna’ahn. In this continent are three powerful nations: the Holy Kingdom of Amoria, the Kingdom of Ishilfen, and the Kingdom of Vanrodis, which share a delicate balance of power. Should disaster befall any one of the three nations, war would spread throughout the continent. Also residing there is the feared “Evil Dragon” Daganzord, an unstoppable force that leaves nothing but scorched land and destruction wherever he goes. Hiiro’s parents, Bairo and Kismitete, joined other sorcerers in a magic ritual ten years ago in an attempt to seal Daganzord, but failed when someone interfered. The ritual would later become known as the “Balbagoa Tragedy.” After being rescued by Giruu, young Hiiro set out to learn swordsmanship so that he could avenge his parents. Now, ten years later, sixteen-year-old Hiiro leaves home on a journey to slay the Evil Dragon, and Giruu feels he has no choice but to accompany him. In the search for the Evil Dragon, Hiiro encounters people of various races who join in his quest to eliminate Daganzord… but will Hiiro really succeed in overcoming the destiny he took upon himself and defeating Daganzord?!
Source: Anime News Network
