The Chinese Confucius Foundation in cooperation with China's two media giants inked a $ 5.3 million deal on Friday to make a cartoon series highlighting the life and teachings of the popular ancient philosopher, Confucius.
The cartoon series, to be composed of 100 episodes in 13-minuter format each, will be aired to mark the 2,560th birth anniversary of Confucius in 2009.
But project proponent CCF in cooperation with Shandong Radio and Television General Station and Shenzhen Phoenix Star clarified that preparations for the historic event will commence early next year.
"The cartoon aims to make Confucius and his philosophy well known and better understood in a form with popular appeal," said the spokesman of the Foundation.
The series will apply the characters' images in three-dimensional backgrounds to make it most appealing especially for the young viewers.
Born in 551 B.C., Confucius has become the most respected Chinese thinker and philosopher.
His teachings and doctrines centered on government morality, correctness of social relationship, justice, peace and harmony have inspired and continue to attract good following throughout the world.
