On January 22, the film "Boonie Bears: Restart" held its world premiere in Beijing, and released the final trailer and poster. The film's chief producer and executive producer Shang Linlin, director Lin Yongchang, screenwriter Cui Tiezhi, voice actors Tan Xiao and Liu Siqi and other main creators appeared after the screening and interacted cordially with the audience. The film will be released nationwide on January 29, the first day of the Chinese New Year.
Director Lin Yongchang speaks at the premiere. Photographer Wang Zheng
Boonie Bears: Restart the Future tells the story of Bald Qiang (voiced by Tan Xiao), Xiong Da (voiced by Zhang Wei), and Xiong Er (voiced by Zhang Bingjun) who meet Xiao Liang (voiced by Liu Siqi) from the future world and travel to the future world 100 years later. At this time, the earth has been invaded by spore plants, cyber heavy industry is intertwined with natural landscapes, wasteland and cutting-edge technology coexist, and humans are struggling to survive in the doomsday. Xiong Qiang and the other two follow Xiao Liang to act together. Can they save the future? Everything will be revealed in the film.
Poster of Boonie Bears: Restart the Future
From Boonie Bears: Chinese New Year in 2013 to Boonie Bears: Restart the Future in 2025, this series of animated films has accompanied Chinese audiences through a cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Previously, the topic of "Accompanying Boonie Bears to the Year of the Snake" has sparked billions of discussions on the Internet. Since 2021, Boonie Bears has turned to focus on the creation of science fiction themes, and has successively launched Wild Continent, Return to Earth, Bear Core, and Reverse Time, which have been widely acclaimed. After five years of hard work, Restart the Future will also be the final chapter of the "Science Fiction Pentalogy" and draw a phased period.
"Through the 'Five Science Fiction Movies', we use science fiction imagination to reflect real-life problems. We have worked on themes such as artificial intelligence, aerospace, and multiple timelines. This time, we chose to work on a doomsday theme based on our thinking about reality." Shang Linlin said, "In recent years, everyone often feels powerless and feels that individuals are very small. Even in such an environment, I believe that everyone will yearn for hope and light. The 'little brother' Xiaoliang in the film leads the protagonists to save the future with courage and perseverance. I also hope that with the arrival of the New Year, the film can bring joy and warmth to everyone, and use our courage to open up a better future."
Stills from Boonie Bears: Restart the Future
Looking back on the creation of the Boonie Bears series of films, director Lin Yongchang admitted that the team has been challenging and surpassing themselves every year. "We always adhere to the positioning of family fun, and we carefully craft each work just to accompany more Chinese audiences. In the future, this large film series will continue to be filmed. In the creation of this one, the biggest challenge we encountered was how to construct a complete world view and promote the growth of the characters."
"In previous doomsday-themed movies, the worldview was relatively monotonous and gloomy. But in "Restart the Future", the worldview is both colorful and magnificent, and it hides many thrills and unknowns, which can make everyone's eyes light up. In terms of character growth, especially Bald Qiang, who has perfectly returned to the forest last year, this time we considered putting him in the position of an ordinary person. In fact, people will inevitably encounter various pressures and confusions in life, and may choose to compromise and escape, but he was eventually moved by Xiaoliang's persistence and belief, just like one of his lines in the film, 'Can I be brave again?' Through Bald Qiang's changes, we also hope to bring strength and the courage to solve difficulties to the audience friends." Lin Yongchang said.
"As screenwriters, one of our main creative tasks this time is to shape the important character of Xiaoliang. The main creators all like him very much and feel sorry for him," Cui Tiezhi explained, "but due to the needs of the story, we have to impose all kinds of injustices and difficulties on him - this made us feel that we were the biggest 'villain' in this movie. It is also because of this that we can show Xiaoliang's indomitable spirit, and his belief in changing the world with his weak body can be portrayed so movingly."
Stills from Boonie Bears: Restart the Future
Talking about the character he dubbed, Tan Xiao said that there are often contrasts in Bald Qiang's life. "This is actually a process of him falling into confusion and breaking through himself. This time he and Xiao Liang encountered many difficulties in the future world. Their adventures together also enhanced their friendship. Just like the saying in the film, 'No matter how weak the light is, it can illuminate the darkness'. I am that light."
Xiaoliang is a brand new character in the Boonie Bears series, but voice actor Liu Siqi has voiced different characters in many previous Boonie Bears films. "I would like to describe Xiaoliang in three words: brave, responsible, and persistent. Although he is a child, he is sometimes more responsible than adults. In the face of any difficulties, he always keeps going and never gives up."
