CURIOUS TALE OF PU'S RETURN

Film on Qing Dynasty novelist, who stars in his own stories, pays tribute to one of ancient China's literary greats, Xu Fan reports.

More than 300 years ago, writer Pu Songling penned nearly 500 fantastical short stories — many centered on romances between human beings and spirits, ghosts, or otherworldly beings.

Now, long after his death in 1715, the celebrated Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) novelist is reimagined in a way he likely never anticipated: as an animated character reviewing the very stories he once wrote — the central plot of the new summer blockbuster Curious Tales of a Temple.

The movie, the latest outing from Beijing-based Light Chaser Animation Studios — known for creating feature-length films inspired by traditional culture, history, and literary masterpieces — hit domestic theaters on July 12.