Director dives deep into research, bringing authenticity to his stories and reviving martial arts culture, Xu Fan reports.

From his office window in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, director Sun Haipeng often peered down at a concrete platform littered with discarded iron and glass fragments.

Despite the harsh conditions, a single resilient blade of wild grass stood tall. Every year, Sun watched it wither in winter only to sprout anew and turn green the following spring.

The grass became a good "friend" accompanying Sun for five years. In a way, it served as a muse for his animated film I Am What I Am.

Released in 2021, the movie quickly emerged as a dark-horse hit, resonating with many audiences because of its protagonist Liu Jiajuan who transforms from a timid teenager enduring bullying to bravely pursuing his dream of obtaining an underdog win in a lion dance competition.