Animation on ancient anti-Japanese hero to debut

An animation series themed on the Chinese ancient national hero Qi Jiguang will debut on TV on Friday.

Qi Jiguang was a military general who gained fame fighting wokou, the Japanese pirates, and later served as an imperial envoy for Emperor Jia Jing of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Qi is widely regarded as one of the most respected national heroes in Chinese culture.

The 26-episode animation will tell about the stories that how Qi Jiguang led Ming forces to defend China's east coastal regions from Japanese pirate raids in the 16th century.

The animation which employs 3D technology, is faithfully based on the original historical records and independently produced by a Chinese company, according to the national TV station broadcasting it.