China’s Animated ‘White Snake’ Trailer Reveals Trickster Gods and Star Crossed Love

Ride or die, animation is one of my favorite genres when it comes to film. With that being said, I am none too familiar with the fantastic wave of animated projects coming out of China. Heck, I’m not even an expert when it comes to Chinese folklore and fairytales. But that’s fine, as GKIDS, the distributor of the best-animated films in the world is moving to bring to life what Richard Kuipers of Variety says is a “famous Chinese folktale get[ting] an origins story in this colorful animation aimed at grown-ups”. From Light Chaser Animation, one of China’s premiere animation studios, and directed by Amp Won and Zhao Ji, comes a stunning new take on a classic legend that can hopefully serve as a gateway to the incomparable work of China for animation fans of the West.   The film follows a young woman named Blanca, who is saved by a snake catcher by the name of Xuan. Xuan is from a nearby village and it is opportune that he was around as Blanca has completely lost her memory: she has no idea who she is, where her home is and, more importantly, if she was running from some dangerous persons or circumstances. As the two agree to travel together to discover her real identity, they discover much including their budding feelings for each other. But as they learn more about her past, the two young lovers uncover a darker plot of supernatural forces vying for power, with the fate of the world precariously hanging in the balance. Conceived as a prequel to one of the oldest and most …