Chinese animation is booming these days, the CG side in particular, and an important pioneer in the field is director Tian Xiaopeng, who lit the fuse with his feature debut in 2015, the award-winning box-office smash hit MONKEY KING: HERO IS BACK. Following that irreverent reimagining of classical Chinese mythology, Tian embarked on a truly original project, and seven years later, DEEP SEA has at last surfaced on our shores. Strange, wondrous, and courageous in its emotional exploration, DEEP SEA is also an incredible work of technical innovation. Seeking to establish a uniquely Chinese style, the country’s animators have strived to merge their very linear craft with traditional ink-wash painting since the 1961 short film TADPOLES SEARCHING FOR MOTHER. Their successes, however, have only revealed what an overwhelming challenge the approach can be. Tian, the intrepid innovator, has achieved a new high, however. Using a cutting-edge digital particle-animation technique, and backed by a staff of close to 1500 artisans, he has created a visual spectacle of unprecedented richness, one of which we can truly say: you’ve never seen anything like this before. And for an all the more incredible experience, Fantasia is presenting DEEP SEA in 3D!