Highly anticipated upcoming animated films includeCurious Tales of a Temple, which is an innovative retelling of Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) novelist Pu Songling's masterpieceLiaozhai Zhiyi(Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio), andThe Legend of Hei 2, which will once again bring to life the titular black cat demon — a shape-shifter capable of transforming into an adorable boy.

　　With more live-action tentpoles gearing up for the lucrative season, highlighted projects also includeDongji Rescue, based on the true story of Chinese fishermen rescuing British prisoners of war from the sinking Japanese cargo shipLisbon Maruin the 1940s, andThe Lychee Road, which fictionalizes a Tang Dynasty (618-907) low-level official's difficult mission to transport the fruit from which the movie's title is taken.

　　“The summer season is heating up with a variety of genres and themes,“ said Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association.

　　Despite the Chinese film market facing various challenges — from the unprecedented expansion of short videos to decreasing investment — domestic filmmakers have been actively developing new methods to attract and resonate with audiences, he added.

　　“A healthy and mature market isn't just about runaway hits likeNe Zha 2— it's about having a steady stream of high-quality films across all genres. Different movies need to find their right audiences — that's how a sustainable industry can be built and kept growing,“ Rao said.

　　Propelled by the summer blockbusters, this year's box office has reached 29.9 billion yuan, according to live tracker Beacon. Chen Jin, a veteran analyst at Beacon's research institute, said that the industry expects the summer season to boost morale and accelerate recovery.

　　xufan@chinadaily.com.cn