Light Chaser Animation released a teaser to their next project over the weekend, and for fans of the book, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Amazon link), this news is very exciting! One of the most famous stories includes a short to which Tsui Hark’s 1987 A Chinese Ghost Story is based on. And as for what I assume to be an anthology series, just what other spooky tales can be offered can range from spectres just wanting a second chance at life to that of spirits taking vengeance! The date for this release is the summer of 2025!
With over 500 tales to choose from in the 12 volumes published, I can’t venture to guess just how many segments will be offered. If I was producing, I’d opt to select one story per book, and instead of making one movie, at least make it a trilogy. In the West, the only compilation I’m acutely aware of is The A, B, C’s of Death where 26 shorts are offered in just one work!
I have the abridged Penguin book that I look at from time to time when the mood hits. If I was to select from what I like to see adapted, they would be:
- The Animated Corpse [ Shibian (屍變)]
- Children from Beyond the Grave [ Zhu’er (珠兒)]
– to which the trailer may be taking inspiration from. - The Peach Trees of Su the Immortal [ Su xian (蘇仙)]
- Death of laughter [ Zhucheng moujia (諸城某甲)]
- Ghosts and arch-wraiths [ Zhang aduan (章阿端)]
- Righter of grievances from beyond the grave [ Niè zheng (聶政)]
- Strange Encounter [ Shao xiucai (郭秀才)]
- Strange Corpse [ Fu shi (負屍)]
- On Duty in the Underworld [ Zaoli (皂隸)]
- Secrets Disclosed [ Zhen sheng (真生)]
- Dance Ghost Loves [ Wanxia (晚霞)]
- Ghosts of the Lake [ Tian zicheng (田子成)]
Only time will tell if any of my selections will get adapted. This teaser is only very timely since Halloween is nearly here, and although this holiday is not as widely celebrated in the Asian world, it’s at least recognised in smaller scaled events for those wanting it to happen while working in this country.
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