New ‘Liao Zhai: Temple of Lanruo’ poster released – animated film gets July, 2025 premiere in China
Michelle Topham 
Fifth Light Chaser Animation summer release
Chinese studio Light Chaser Animation has unveiled a new poster for its upcoming film Liao Zhai: Temple of Lanruo, while also officially announcing its release in China on July 12th, 2025.
Both were released via Light Chaser’s official Weibo account earlier today.
The animated film itself marks the first time in Chinese animation history that Pu Songling’s classic masterpiece Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio—renowned as the “world’s greatest collection of short stories”—has been adapted in an anthology format.
In adapting this work, Light Chaser Animation has pushed creative boundaries in storytelling, visual style, and audiovisual experience, aiming to deliver a mesmerizing journey into not often seen Eastern folklore.
The film itself tells various stories of humans, demons, ghosts and immortals, that are all woven together and interlock to create a whole.
The upcoming film is co-directed by Cui Yuemei, Liu Yuan, Xie Junwei, Zou Jing, Huang Heyu, and Liu Yilin.
It continues Light Chaser’s now-five-year tradition of summer releases, following popular animated films White Snake 2: The Tribulation of the Green Snake, New Gods: Yang Jian, Chang’an, and White Snake: Afloat.
Like its predecessors as well, it is highly likely to be a long film, with all well over 2 hours in length and Chang’an hitting close to 3 hours.
Yes, that is an enormous amount of animation that needs to be carried out to produce something that long.
But, the beauty of Light Chaser is they are able to achieve this while showcasing some of the most beautiful art styles and characters you will ever see in an animated film, and with the most amazing animation.
The newly-released Liao Zhai: Temple of Lanruo poster
The latest quite stunning poster shows Pu Songling himself holding a lantern over an old well, as he peers into a hidden world of classical paintings and ornate architecture.
A place where characters from each tale roam freely.
But, beyond the candlelight, monsters lurk in the darkness, poised to strike—capturing the eerie, eclectic essence of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
Liao Zhai: Temple of Lanruo is produced by Light Chaser Animation, Shanghai Ruyi Films, Wanda Pictures, Tao Piao Piao Films, China Film Co., Ltd., Shanghai Light Chaser Pictures, Light Chaser Animation Studio (Beijing), and Light Chaser Pictures (Hangzhou).
There is no word yet as to when Liao Zhai: Temple of Lanruo will premiere outside China.
But fingers crossed it will hit Bilibili or Netflix, as several of the earlier films did, some time not too far away.
Meanwhile, if you are in China in July, look for it to hit Chinese movie theaters on July 12th.
About the Author
Steven Reynolds