The Chinese animated 3-D film Xiong Mao Zong Dong Yuan (Panda Story) will be released in January 2011, M1905.com reports.

Still of Xiong Mao Zong Dong Yuan [CRI]

Co-produced by the China Film Group Corp. and German company ORB Filmproduktion GmbH, the film has been six years in the making with an investment of 350 million yuan (US$ 52 million).

Producer Chen Xiaoxiang said the current 3-D technology for animation is more mature for films today and is one of the selling points of his movie. About 60 percent of the investment has already been covered by selling the film distribution rights to more than 70 countries.

Following Xiong Mao Zong Dong Yuan, the Hollywood film Kungfu Panda 2 will be released in mid-2011. The two panda stories will compete for audiences.

Chen said the production period for his film would be longer than that of Kung Fu Panda, which required four years for its animation effects and six years for its total production.

"Audiences will see the competition of the two panda stories and see which panda is better," Chen was quoted as saying. "They will see more Chinese features and Chinese spirit in the character in my film. Even the background will be specially created according to Chinese painting style."

The panda character in Xiong Mao Zong Dong Yuan leads his villagers in a fight against their enemies and successfully survives the attackers.

Chen also plans to develop an animated film industry chain that includes a television series, games, books, souvenirs and theme parks.

The production of Xiong Mao Zong Dong Yuan will be completed by July, and a 52-episode television version of the movie will be made and released in 2012.

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