"Nezha is a like a superhero idol. Most of us are familiar with his story, so our top challenge was to seek a new way to retell this household tale," director Zhao Ji said.

A graduate of digital filmmaking from the University of California in Los Angeles, Zhao shot to fame after co-directing Light Chaser Animation's hit White Snake.

Inspired by household folklore about two snake spirits, the White Snake film, made in association with Warner Brothers, has earned 470 million yuan ($72.8 million) at the box office and accumulated 550 million "clicks" from online subscribers.