Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Jet Li could quickly return to international screens in digitally resurrected type.

On the twenty seventh Shanghai Worldwide Movie Competition, the China Movie Basis and companions launched two main AI-driven initiatives underneath the Kung Fu Movie Heritage Undertaking: a large-scale effort to revive 100 basic martial arts movies utilizing synthetic intelligence, and the disclosing of a brand-new animated characteristic, “A Higher Tomorrow: Cyber Border,” billed because the world’s first absolutely AI-produced animated characteristic movie.

The restoration mission goals to digitally remaster 100 landmark kung fu movies, utilizing AI to reinforce picture, sound, and general manufacturing high quality whereas preserving the storytelling and aesthetic of the originals. Organizers described it as a long-term dedication to reviving the cultural and cinematic legacy of Chinese language martial arts cinema.

“From Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan, from ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ to ‘Wolf Warrior,’ these movies have proven the world the vitality and spirit of the Chinese language folks,” mentioned China Movie Basis chair Zhang Qilin. “They’re our cinematic calling playing cards to the world.”

Titles set for AI restoration embody “Fist of Fury,” “The Huge Boss,” “As soon as Upon a Time in China,” and “Drunken Grasp,” amongst others. Canxing Media chair Tian Ming confirmed that ten of the 100 movies will likely be prioritized within the first section of improvement, with RMB100 million ($13.9 million) allotted to help the hassle.

“AI is the comb, however creativity is the soul,” Tian mentioned. “Traditional kung fu movies embody China’s religious spine. We’re inviting international companions to hitch this cultural and technological reboot.”

Individually, the occasion additionally featured the premiere of “A Higher Tomorrow: Cyber Border,” a cyberpunk reinterpretation of the John Woo crime basic, produced by Quantum Animation. The movie was created utilizing a full-stack AI pipeline, masking all the pieces from scripting and modeling to animation and rendering.

“This complete animated characteristic was made by simply 30 folks,” mentioned producer Zhang Qing. “AI has collapsed the barrier between creativity and execution. The manufacturing cycle has gone from years to months.”

Billed because the world’s first absolutely AI-produced animated characteristic, “Cyber Border” was introduced as a proof-of-concept for the way forward for Chinese language style storytelling — combining martial arts, futuristic aesthetics, and new modes of manufacturing. Zhang additionally urged Chinese language creators to maneuver past conventional codecs and develop IP into interactive varieties corresponding to globally aggressive combating video games.

“Why are the world’s greatest combating video games not Chinese language, after they all borrow Chinese language strikes?” he requested. “We have to construct the following Avenue Fighter from our personal IPs like Wong Fei-hung and Nezha.”

Regulatory help for each initiatives was emphasised all through the occasion. He Tao, of the Nationwide Radio and Tv Administration’s analysis heart, cited current AI-related coverage measures — together with the 2023 Interim Measures for the Administration of Generative AI Companies and the 2025 labeling guidelines for AI-generated content material — as important to supporting wholesome improvement of AI within the media sector.

“AI is just not a instrument—it’s a new infrastructure,” He mentioned. “It’s reworking screenwriting, results, dubbing, and distribution. In brief movies and micro-dramas, AI has already change into customary.”

A newly established Trade-Academia-Analysis Middle in Shanghai will function a key hub for expertise coaching and experimentation, becoming a member of related bases in Xi’an, Wuhan, and Xiamen. Nationwide render farms in Guizhou, officers mentioned, have reduce visible results processing time from greater than 400 days to 24 hours.

The launch occasion concluded with tributes to business veterans together with motion star Yu Rongguang, screenwriter Zhang Tan, and producer Yuan Hong, all honored as contributors to the broader mission.

“I’ve spent 40 years doing nothing however kung fu movies,” Yuan mentioned. “If I’ve any power left, I’ll dedicate it to this plan.”

Zhang Tan added: “Kung fu movies are about progress, spirit, and dignity. With AI, we’re not erasing the previous— we’re giving it a second wind.”