A scene from The Magic Brush Photo: Courtesy of Yingxing Tianxia

Animated film The Magic Brush, distributed by the China Film Group Corporation and made through creative technological support provided by The Walt Disney Company (China), premiered in Beijing on Tuesday night, with a nation-wide release scheduled for Friday in 2D, 3D and IMAX.

The film is the latest adaptation of the well-known book by Hong Xuntao Ma Liang and His Magic Brush, in which an immortal, impressed with Ma's artistic talent, grants him a magic brush that can make drawings real. 

In this adapted version, more oriental elements have been added such as the legendary creatures the taotie and qiongqi, which were sealed within the magical brush through the magic of the immortal.

Instead of the poor vulnerable kid from the book, Ma Liang has become a cute chubby kid from Baihua Villiage.

When a fierce and cruel general who has kidnapped the emperor comes to Ma's village, the film's hero is given the magical brush to save the village.

In addition to helping with the film's excellent 3D effects, the Walt Disney team also contributed to the sound track. Chinese pop king, singer Jacky Cheung and his old partner, record producer Ou Dingyu, have come together once again to create the theme song for the film.

The Walt Disney team also advised the production team when it came to the screenplay, character design and even information about child psychology, which has given this Chinese animated film a hint of the Disney style.

Hitting screens during the summer holiday, the film is looking to coax both parents and their children into theaters.