Thru the Moebius Strip, the most expensive animation ever made in China, crashed in its first week at the domestic box office. It banked only 100,000 yuan, a drop in the bucket of its 130 million yuan investment.
The three-dimensional film took five years to make. More than 400 artists from eight countries took part in it. It's about a resourceful boy's adventure.
During the summer, the investors said they don't expect much income in China. The main reason they are screening it domestically is to let people know China can make such high-tech 3D animation. They are putting their hopes on overseas earnings instead.
However, they now admit it's almost a mission impossible to cover their expenses even overseas.
(CRI August 7, 2006)
