Iconic attractions
Sun decided to start production on the sequel in the spring of 2022. To prepare, Sun and the main creators from Guangzhou visited Shanghai seven times to study the seasonal changes, particularly focusing on vegetation.
"Shanghai is an inclusive city with a tradition of blending martial arts from diverse schools over a century ago," remarks Sun.
Alongside scriptwriter Shen Cheng, a seasoned writer of sports narratives, Sun dived into researching Shanghai's history.
He was intrigued by the discovery that Huo Yuanjia, a renowned martial artist, founded the Chin Woo Athletic Association in 1910, China's first public martial arts institution.
The team was also impressed by the city's various facets — its iconic attractions like Chenghuangmiao, or City God Temple, the skyscrapers and ramshackle residential buildings, which consist of shabby apartments on one floor with a tubelike corridor, communal toilet and kitchen.
Recalling his visit to a similar building that was soon to be demolished, Sun was shocked by its shabby environment. This experience inspired him to create the 5-square-meter room shared by Ajuan and his two close friends for 1,500 yuan per month upon their arrival in Shanghai.
Moreover, the film evokes a nostalgic sentiment among locals. For instance, in one scene, Wang reminisces to Ajuan about a joyful childhood memory while riding the iconic 108-meter-tall Ferris wheel at Jinjiang Amusement Park, China's first colossal Ferris wheel.
"For most first-time visitors, they may not pay attention to the Ferris wheel. But it has been ingrained in the collective memories of Shanghai residents born between the 1980s and 1990s," Sun elaborates.
Born in 1979 in Zhongxiang, a small city in Hubei province, Sun sees elements of himself in the protagonist.
After graduating from the Hubei Institute of Fine Arts with a major in watercolor, Sun shifted to animation to increase his career prospects in Guangzhou.
Despite using just two books and an old computer in humble conditions, his late-night studies sparked a genuine passion, leading him to produce the short animated series Bao Qiang — fictionalizing a steamed bun's kung fu journey — in 2007.
With the 2019 award-winning animated feature Kungfood, a fantastic tale centering on various snacks like sushi and noodles that excel in martial arts, Sun has garnered more recognition, paving the way for him to direct the influential I Am What I Am franchise.
