How Tsui Hark and Tony Ching followed up on the classic fantasy film A Chinese Ghost Story
Advertisement
The story, set in a mythical China, featured
Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing as a naive debt collector who falls in love with a beautiful ghost played by
Joey Wong Cho-yee.
Here we look at two very different sequels Tsui produced.
A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation (1997)
Animations have never been a favourite of Hong Kong producers, despite the popularity of Japanese anime in the city. This 1997
Tsui Hark -produced production, coming a few years before
the McDull films , was the first local animated film.
It keeps the bare bones of the original storyline, but makes it more appealing to younger teens by focusing on a virginal romance, with lots of anime-style ghosts and monsters.
The main theme of a female ghost (voiced by
Anita Yuen Wing-yee ) seeking to lay her spirit to rest with the help of her mortal lover (
Jan Lamb Hoi-fung ) is the same. But the similarity stops there.
Tsui's main concern is whizz-bang cartoon action with characters and style in the vein of the Japanese Dragonball Z anime series, which was popular on local television at the time.
A still from A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation (1997). Photo: Film Workshop
'The animated version sees Tsui remould the story for a young 1990s audience,' this writer wrote in the Post in 1997. 'It is action-packed, mixing the ghostly atmosphere of the original with some anime style characters and wild computer-generated effects.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong-born artist's works finally shown again 36 years after dying young
Born in Hong Kong in 1954, Josephine Cheung Shuk-fong died in 1989 just as she was starting to make a mark on the art world. The painter grew up in Sheung Shui, then a rural part of the city, and died in Toronto, Canada, from lung cancer at the age of 35. Cheung moved to Canada in the 1970s and spent the rest of her short life there, apart from a year in New York. The paintings she left behind either went into storage at her husband's Montreal gallery or were sold privately, while others were kept at her family's home in Toronto. They disappeared from view completely. That changed in June, when Alisan Fine Arts' New York gallery held a commemorative exhibition of Cheung's works that blend abstract expressionism and figurative painting. Untitled (1984), by Josephine Cheung. Photo: Josephine Cheung Behind the exhibition is a moving story of a loyal friend's tireless campaign to restore Cheung's place in art history. Hong Kong-born Nancy Mei-yu Tong is a New York-based documentary filmmaker.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong concerts you don't want to miss, from student performers to gamers
We are well into the second half of 2025, but there are still many chances to immerse yourself in the joy of music. Hong Kong will be hosting many exciting concerts that offer a unique blend of musical experiences that can elevate your mood and energise your spirit. Here are six upcoming performances you won't want to miss. Fringe Youth: Class of 25' Cabaret When: August 15 at 7.30pm Where: The Jockey Club Studio Theatre This is your opportunity to enjoy all your favourite Broadway songs in one performance! A talented group of six students will showcase hits from Heathers, Shrek, Legally Blonde, Songs For a New World and Frozen in a half-staged concert style. This unique format combines elements of a traditional concert with some theatrical staging. Get your tickets here. Photo: Instagram/Classof25cabaret Agnes Huang School of Ballet: Peter Pan When: August 15 - 16 at 3pm Where: The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Rita Tong Liu Drama Theatre The Agnes Huang School of Ballet is set to enchant audiences with a captivating ballet adaptation of the beloved film Peter Pan. This production promises to bring the whimsical world of Neverland to life through the art of dance, showcasing the school's talented dancers as they portray iconic characters such as Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook. Get your tickets here. Photo: Handout Opera Hong Kong: Lehar's The Merry Widow When: August 15 - 16 at 7.30pm Where: Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall This delightful operetta is sure to bring a smile to your face. Featuring a charming romance filled with waltzes and clever wit, it has been described as 'the sparkling jewel of the Viennese stage'. The production by Opera Hong Kong will be directed by Tang Xinxin and will showcase a cast composed entirely of local singers. As always, the Opera Hong Kong Orchestra, led by German conductor Michael Koehler, will provide the orchestral accompaniment. Get your tickets via Urbtix. Photo: Handout Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra: Heroes: A Video Game Symphony When: 7.30pm on October 31; 3pm on November 1 Where: Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium Are you a video game enthusiast? If so, this concert is for you. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kevin Zakresky, will perform a selection of soundtracks from iconic video games. Get set for an exhilarating experience of live music, featuring scenes from your favourite games. Keep your eye out for tickets. HKYAF: Likes & Lies When: November 13 - 15 Where: The Box, Freespace, WestK This heartfelt musical delves into the complexities of friendship and romance in the digital age. Follow Savannah and Chun as they navigate their friendships and relationships through social media, exploring the challenges of modern connections and the quest for authenticity in a world filled with likes and filters. Tickets will be available from September on the official WestK website. Photo: Handout HK Phil: Frozen Live in Concert When: December 18 - 20 at 7.30pm Where: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall It's hard to believe that it has been 12 years since the Frozen movie released. Did you ever think you'd have the chance to see it on the big screen again? Well, now you do. But here's the twist: the entire movie will be accompanied by a live orchestra. Get your tickets at Urbtix starting from August 14. Photo: Handout
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
The Lychee Road movie review: Da Peng takes aim at corruption in rollicking comedy drama
4/5 stars Advertisement A lowly government official puts his life on the line to attempt the impossible task of transporting fresh fruit across China in the comedy drama The Lychee Road. Set during the Tang Dynasty, and featuring a sprawling cast of raucous supporting players, the film is directed and written by Da Peng, who also stars as Li Shande, the man cajoled into delivering fresh Lingnan lychees to the capital Chang'an in time for the imperial consort's birthday. From its opening moments, audiences are aware that nobody wants Inspector Li to succeed in his fruitless endeavour, least of all the scheming Eunuch Yu (Chang Yuan), to whom the Emperor made his impossible request. Desperate to pass the buck, the dubious honour is assigned to Li, a dedicated employee from the Bureau of Imperial Gardens. Advertisement Having just bought a house for his wife (Yang Mi) and young daughter, Li is desperate for cash and is easily duped into accepting the contract, believing he is to courier preserved lychees, rather than fresh ones.
