A 3D animated film about football among China's youth is set to hit the screen soon, and renowned author of Captain Tsubasa Yoichi Takahashi will reportedly write the script, according to an announcement on Saturday, June 4.
"The film is expected to inspire Chinese teenagers to love football, as well as to cultivate the spirit of hard work," Zhao Jun, one of the investors, said.
According to Xinhua, the film will focus on a talented football kid who learns stunts from rivals. It will portray determination and perseverance as the tougher the opponents he faces, the higher his morale will be boosted, causing him not to give up.
A press conference for the movie, which is set to be released in 2018, was held in Qinhuangdao, a coastal city in northern China. The day before, China snatched a 4-2 victory against Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly football match.
The conference was attended by Gao Hongpo, head coach of China's national team, and the famous Japanese cartoonist Takahashi.
"Captain of Football Team' depicts the power of dreams. The protagonist goes through the process of growth. He eventually takes a team from an ordinary mountain village to the National League Championship," Takahashi shared.
"I hope this experience could reflect the development of the era and society," he continued.
Anime has reached Japan and other Asian nations like South Korea and China. Among the top drama films adopted from Japan's manga comics are Boys Over Flowers and City Hunter, while Hana Yori Dango and City Hunter are based on anime.