Film
[Master Ji Gong]
Checked
26 ·
Publish Date
2025-11-21 18:56:38
类别 ☺Works ▎Films ▎Theatrical Films ▎Master Ji Gong
Tags Action Hot-Blooded Animation Inspirational Ancient Times Chinese Style Soundwaves
[ Master Ji Gong ] Directed by Liu Zhijiang and Qiao Yu, executive produced by Jin Dong and Liu Zheng, and co-produced by Zhejiang Ruichen Pictures and Beacon Pictures, this animated feature premiered nationwide in 2021. Inspired by the legendary Chinese folk tale of Ji Gong—the “Living Buddha” and “Mad Monk”—the film follows young Li Xiuyuan on his heroic journey to save his mother. Bonding with the mythical Azure Fire Dragon, he endures profound inner struggles and trials before awakening as Ji Gong, rising to confront celestial calamity and protect humanity.Blending Eastern fantasy aesthetics with cutting-edge animation techniques, the film reimagines a classic character’s coming-of-age arc while embodying the timeless spirit: “Compassion for all, courage to act.”
Recognized for its cultural and creative excellence, the film was selected for the Media Focus Section at the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival, earning industry acclaim. It received consecutive grants (2018 & 2019) from China’s National Film Administration under the “Chinese Classic Folktales Animation Initiative”, highlighting its innovation in revitalizing traditional stories for modern audiences. In 2021, it was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 18th China Anime Golden Dragon Awards.
Our team had the honor of delivering the film’s complete audio post-production, including sound design, music editing, voice casting, vocal processing, and final mixing, shaping its immersive sonic identity.
Behind the Sound: Music | Sound Effects | Creatures Sound Design | Voice Casting & Performance | Final Mixing
[ Music ]
To deepen narrative layers and emotional resonance, our composers crafted thematic motifs aligned with key story beats. In the poignant scene where Xiuyuan bids farewell to his father before battling the Golden-Winged Demon, somber melodies and low-string textures convey the weight of sacrifice and solitary courage. The climactic “Father-Son vs. Jinling” sequence uses orchestral tension to underscore familial love clashing with fate. Meanwhile, the lighthearted “Stealing the Golden Body” segment features playful rhythms that enhance comedic timing and whimsy. Through multiple rounds of refinement, every cue was meticulously synchronized with visual pacing and emotional shifts—amplifying storytelling impact without overpowering it.
[ Sound Design ]
From the gentle drip of cave water to earth-shattering celestial battles, our sound team built a richly detailed sonic world grounded in realism yet charged with dramatic power. Extensive field recordings captured authentic source materials—wooden clappers (bolanggu), prayer beads, palm-leaf fans, and more.
He bolanggu (pellet drum), a recurring symbolic object, evolves sonically alongside the protagonist. Our team tested dozens of drum variants, experimented with striking techniques, and recorded over 10 hours of raw material. Through spectral analysis and creative processing, we shaped a signature sound: bright, mid-to-high-frequency tones with brisk rhythm in early scenes reflect the boy’s mischief; later, deep resonant lows and spatialized reverb imbue the instrument with ritual gravitas and heroic symbolism—turning sound itself into a narrative device.
[ Creatures Sound Design ]
The film features an array of mythical creatures and animal characters, each requiring a delicate balance between biological plausibility and expressive performance. Using multi-species vocal layering and acoustic synthesis, we crafted distinct auditory identities: The opening ox combines bovine bellows with subtle elements from donkeys, horses, and dogs to heighten expressiveness.
The Azure Fire Dragon, Xiuyuan’s spiritual companion, blends low-frequency rumbles from elephants and whales to create a majestic, living presence—serving both as a mythic totem and emotional anchor.
[ Voice Casting & Performance ]
As a fully post-synced animated feature, every line of dialogue had to precisely match lip movements, emotional nuance, and performance rhythm. Over 700 days, our voice team refined performances through iterative ADR sessions, meticulously adjusting intonation, breath control, pauses, and micro-expressions.
Special attention was paid to Xiuyuan’s vocal evolution: his voice subtly matured across the story—from youthful brightness to the grounded warmth of Ji Gong—ensuring seamless alignment between character growth and sonic portrayal, resulting in emotionally authentic and vividly individualized performances.
[ Final Mixing ]
To guarantee consistent playback across diverse modern cinema environments, we mixed the film in a certified Dolby Atmos theater using professional-grade monitoring systems. Final mixes underwent rigorous on-site testing in representative commercial theaters, where we fine-tuned low-end response, dynamic range, and dialogue intelligibility based on real-world acoustics.
An added step of live venue calibration and iterative remixing ensured the soundtrack delivers stable, clear, and dimensionally rich audio—whether heard in a premium IMAX hall or a standard multiplex—honoring the film’s epic scale and intimate moments alike.
