Heroes keep winning

A movie still from The Calabash Brothers. [Photo in courtesy of Shanghai Animation Film Studio]

The animated film version of the classic cartoon series "The Calabash Brothers" has proved to be a box-office sensation since its release on May 23.

The domestic animated feature was released with a record 200 prints and has taken 8 million yuan (US$1.2 million) in ticket sales - a significant performance for a home-made cartoon.

The 85-minute production tells of the seven super hero Calabash brothers and their encounters with an evil scorpion and snake.

The film retains the flavor of the 22-year-old 13-episode television series but has been given a new look with digital technology.

"The classic story line will never be out of date," said Zhou Jun, deputy director of Shanghai Animation Film Studio, the movie's producer.

"After we gave it stunning new imagery and sound it both satisfies the nostalgia of people who watched the original series and appeals to today's children."

He attributes a lot of the film's success to the fame and fan base of the television series and expects the film to take another 2 million yuan during the summer.

Director Zhou Keqin, who was also a co-director of the 1986 TV series, says effective marketing has enhanced the film's popularity. The film makers remixed the series' famous theme song and developed marketing products such as toys, books and DVDs. Now they are considering a live-action version.