Ding Zhong on Chinese Animation, Mythology and Into the Mortal World

In this episode of "Greenlights & Ground Truths", ContentAsia’s Janine Stein speaks with Ding Zhong, director of the animated feature Into the Mortal World.

The film, produced by Winsing Animation, reimagines Chinese mythology through a story that moves between the celestial and mortal worlds, exploring questions of fate, identity and family bonds. As the film continues its international festival run, Ding Zhong talks about the challenge of bringing culturally rooted stories to global audiences and why emotional storytelling travels across cultures.

The conversation also looks at the broader landscape of Chinese animation, the growing international visibility of Chinese animated films, and how emerging AI tools may change the way animation is produced.

Ding Zhong, who teaches at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, also shares little-known facts about origins of Into the Mortal World, which began as a student graduation project before becoming a full-length feature.

"Greenlights & Ground Truths" is ContentAsia’s series of conversations with Asia’s creators.