Light Chaser Animation’s “New Culture Series” Returns with Three Kingdoms: Chapter One – The Struggle for Luoyang, Set for Summer 2026 Release

Created by the Original Team Behind Chang An, The film Brings Young Cao Cao and Yuan Shao to the Historical Stage for the First Time, Unveiling the Grand Prelude of Warlords’ Struggle

Following the acclaimed White Snake series, New Gods series, and the 2023 cultural phenomenon Chang An, which grossed over 1.8 billion RMB at the box office, Light Chaser Animation’s “New Culture Series” returns with another major work. As the opening chapter of the “Three Kingdoms” series, Three Kingdoms: Chapter One – The Struggle for Luoyang has officially been unveiled and announced for national release in Summer 2026. Directed by Xie Junwei, the film is a new epic crafted by the original team behind Chang An.

Synopsis: A Dynasty in Decline, Heroes Emerge

The film anchors its story at the dawn of the Three Kingdoms era – the 400-year foundation of the mighty Han dynasty is crumbling, and the chaos of the world begins to surface following the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Young Cao Cao and Yuan Shao step onto the stage of history for the first time. At this moment, Cao Cao is an ambitious and idealistic youth, sharing his friend Yuan Shao’s concerns over the Han dynasty’s decline. The title’s phrase “Struggle for Luoyang” points directly to the heart of power. How will this power game reshape the late Han landscape? What roles will the young Cao Cao and Yuan Shao play within the eye of the historical storm? The struggle for Luoyang, which will determine the future of the Han empire, is about to begin.

Character Portrayal: Cao Cao Defies Fate, Yuan Shao Questions the Times

In the newly released Spring Festival sneak peek trailer, flames of war rage outside Luoyang’s walls. The line, “The grand trend under heaven, after long division, unites; after long union, divides,” captures the vicissitudes of history. The two great heroes of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, appear, questioning their era amidst the chaos. Yuan Shao’s lament, “Is the Han dynasty truly doomed? Is this the will of heaven?” expresses the sorrow of the tumultuous times. Cao Cao’s resolute retort, “I have never believed in the will of heaven,” seems to foreshadow his proactive stance in breaking the deadlock. The grand battle scenes showcase the film’s epic quality, with many viewers praising, “It truly immerses you in that clashing era of the Three Kingdoms.”

In a post-credits scene revealed at the end of the currently showing film A Tale of Ghosts and Gods, a young, headache-ridden Cao Cao furiously orders the caning of a noble who broke the law. The thrown order tally represents not only Cao Cao’s thunderous rage but also the cold declaration of the power struggles and intrigues beginning in the late Han dynasty. This scene serves as the first official reveal of Three Kingdoms: Chapter One – The Struggle for Luoyang, sparking widespread discussion among audiences.

Production Team: The Original Chang An Team Reunites

The film is directed by Xie Junwei, whose representative works include the critically and commercially successful Chang An and the currently screening A Tale of Ghosts and Gods. The screenplay is written by Wang Wei, with Song Yiyi serving as producer. Chang An, released in the Summer 2023 box office, moved over 44 million viewers with its masterful production and profound cultural resonance. The line, “My light skiff has passed a thousand mountains,” struck a chord with countless audiences, earning over 1.8 billion RMB and receiving both popular and critical acclaim, even sparking a nationwide “poetry culture craze.”

This time, the team continues its focus on historical and cultural themes, shifting from the poetic romance of the High Tang to the power struggles and flames of war in the late Han. The film uniquely adopts the perspectives of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, returning to a pivotal historical moment even earlier than the traditional start of the Three Kingdoms story, inviting audiences to re-examine the end of the mighty Han and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era.

Cultural Heritage: Light Chaser Animation’s Summer Cultural Appointment

As one viewer commented, “From Chang An to this year’s A Tale of Ghosts and Gods, and then to 2026’s Three Kingdoms, Light Chaser Animation has its own way of bringing audiences to cinemas every summer to experience the cultural charm passed down through millennia.” Interpreting classics, showcasing Chinese aesthetics – the poetic style of the High Tang, the韵味 of the Song dynasty, the fantastical dreams of Strange Tales, the flames of war in the Three Kingdoms – Light Chaser Animation uses its unique artistic language to open a cultural feast spanning millennia for audiences every summer.

It is reported that the currently screening film A Tale of Ghosts and Gods has surpassed 200 million RMB at the box office, with its screening period extended until September 13, 2025.

In the late Eastern Han dynasty, crises lurked everywhere – eunuchs held power, the people suffered. The Yellow Turbans rose, and heroes of a chaotic era like Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Lü Bu, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei began to show themselves. Various forces vie for Luoyang. Amidst the tumultuous waves, how will Cao Cao and Yuan Shao respond? The struggle for Luoyang, which will change the future of the Han empire, is one to watch for in Summer 2026.