"Thru the Moebius Strip", the most expensive animated film ever made in China and which features the work of more than 400 artists from eight countries, was released in China Friday.

The 16.25-million-US$ animation, about a resourceful boy's adventures, is thoroughly Western in terms of visual style, content and characterisation, Teresa Cao, assistant to the general manager of the Institute of Digital Media Technology (Shenzhen) Limited, who produced the movie, told Xinhua Thursday.

"We spent five years making the three-dimensional film," Cao said. She explained that many famous foreign artists appeared on the credit list including director Glenn Chaika ("Mulan 2"), animation supervisor Kelvin Lee ("City of Angels" and "Stuart Little") and Bob Koch ("Toy Story 2" and "A Bug's Life").

The film was inspired by Frenchman Jean "Moebius" Giraud, widely acknowledged as one of the major influences in the visual arts field, for his contributions to "Alien," "The Abyss" and "The Fifth Element."

"We'll deliver more than 100 copies nationwide and expect to earn over 10 million yuan (US$1.25 million) at the box office on the Chinese mainland," Cao said.

Overseas distribution rights for the movie have been sold to more than 10 countries. Merchandising products such as illustration albums, books, clothes, accessories and toys will also be sold, she said.

The film was made in English with Chinese as a second language. This is a first for a China-made film.

After hitting a real high during the 1960-70s, China's animation industry was overwhelmed by Japanese and American rivals. "Thru the Moebius Strip" is another opportunity to climb back up the rankings following on from "Lotus Lantern" (1999), "The Butterfly Lovers" (2003) and "Little Soldier of Zhangga" (2005).

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2006)