Culture Beat: ‘Shuke Beita’ to hit the big screen

Photo: Courtesy of Douban

Based on the classic work Adventures of Shuke and Beita by China's "King of Fairy Tales" Zheng Yuanjie, the animated film Shuke Beita: Pentagon Flying Saucer, is set to hit cinemas on Saturday.

In 1989, the animated series Shuke and Beita became a nationwide sensation, becoming a childhood memory for many. In 2019, the new version of the series, also called Shuke and Beita, premiered online, accumulating over 4.5 billion views. Zheng's fairy tales have always been a childhood memory for Chinese audiences, and the lovable mice Shuke and Beita are referred to by the author as representation of his "own ID." He integrates the resilient spirit of resisting injustice into his works, interpreting confidence, bravery, and adherence to justice in a purer and more profound way.

At the premiere, Zheng talked about his success. 

"As long as you grasp the magic weapon of success in life, which is excellent moral qualities, you can succeed," Zheng noted. He further mentioned that Shuke and Beita met audiences on December 30, 1983, so December 30, 2023, marks the 40th anniversary of the duo.

The new film tells the story of Shuke and Beita, who, after obtaining the water of life, create a new machine, the Pentagon Flying Saucer. However, during a test flight, they accidentally travel to Cube City 10 years into the future. Here, the two mice discover that their painstakingly managed airline company has been destroyed by a group of mischievous mice.