AN animated movie to feature the Sanxingdui culture will hit domestic cinemas Dec. 29.

Directed by Sean Patrick O’Reilly, “Heroes of the Golden Mask” features Lixian, the daughter of a guardian in the ancient Shu Kingdom. She carries the golden mask of Sanxingdui entrusted to her by her father, and travels through time to find a boy called Charlie. A team of five teenage heroes is later formed, and they embark on a series of adventures while defeating evil.

The movie blends ancient Sanxingdui cultural elements with modern creation techniques, said Yuan Shijun, deputy general manager of the Sichuan Cultural Industry Investment Group, the movie’s producer.

It conveys the cultural essence of Sanxingdui and the ancient Shu Kingdom, showcasing the artistic characteristics and mysteries of the Sanxingdui civilization, Yuan said at the premiere of the movie Saturday.

The Sanxingdui Ruins have been called one of the world’s greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. They cover an area of 12 square kilometers and are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back some 3,000 to 4,500 years. To date, more than 50,000 artifacts have been unearthed. (Xinhua)