Star voices for animation

Star voices for animation

A slew of stars will do the character voices for Old Master Q and Little Ocean Tiger, a cartoon based on the popular Hong Kong-produced comic book series.

Acclaimed Taiwan TV host Kevin Tsai does the voice of a villain who does battle with young actor Deng Chao's Old Master Q, the protagonist beloved in Asia since the first comic book about him was published in 1962. He and his friend Big Potato are two light-hearted men who have tried their hands at various professions. In this film, they work in a theme park, where they meet a new character named Little Ocean Tiger. They save the oceans from vanishing.

Veteran actor Zhang Hanyu and singer Elva Siu also join in the vocal team.

Principals of 20 prestigious primary schools in Beijing have recommended the film because it promotes environmental protection and courage in the face of challenges. It will hit theaters on Jan 27.

A tome about tipple

A collector's edition book produced by the Shanxi province-based Fenjiu Wine Group about China's liquor culture was unveiled to the public at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Jan 21.

The Selection of Poems, Calligraphy, Paintings and Prose on Xinghua village showcases the historical culture of Fenjiu wine with 125 famous poems, more than 180 calligraphic and traditional painting works, and 17 prose works - all about Fenjiu wine. The spirit originated from Shanxi province about 5,000 years ago. Its primary production base, Xinghua village, is the setting of a renowned Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) poem.

Fenjiu Wine Group representatives also donated copies of the book to the National Library of China at the book launch.

Blossom festival opens

The 6th Libo Plum Blossom Festival recently kicked off in southwestern Guizhou province and will run until Feb 16.

This remote, mountainous swath of country boasts dense evergreen forests and karst formations. It is inhabited by the Shui, Yao and Miao ethnic people, who are celebrated for their colorful cultures. And it's host to about 1,330 hectares of wild plum trees, which blossom in the winter, county chief Chen Choubiao says.

Since its 2006 inception, the event has attracted about 1.5 million domestic and international tourists and generated about 600 million yuan, Chen says.

Gala honors 2010's best

The Web portal Sohu.com has kicked off its annual entertainment gala to honor those who stood out in the industry in 2010.

The ceremony on Jan 20 honored Ge You (pictured) and Xu Fan as Actor and Actress of the Year. Ge starred in three blockbusters screened in the winter holiday season, making the beloved comedian the most frequently seen face on the big screen this year. Xu plays a mother overcome by guilt over her daughter for 32 years in Aftershock, the highest-grossing domestically produced film.

Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly was named Film of the Year. Having raked in 650 million yuan ($95) in 30 days, the film's original storyline and exceptional performances have made it the talk of the town.

Dou Xiao and Zhou Dongyu, the leading duo of Zhang Yimou's Under the Hawthorn, were honored as the New Faces of the Year.