iQiyi releases its first AIGC feature film 'Qi Tan: Paper Blade Crossing the Wasteland'

iQiyi has launched its AIGC feature film 'Qi Tan: Paper Blade Crossing the Wasteland', the first AIGC long film in China to obtain a distribution license and go online. The 60-minute film was made by a team of over 20 people, exploring a full AI production workflow from creative development, prompt engineering, to 4K output.

The film is rooted in Chinese mythical legends. It tells the story of Bai Xiaoman, a paper master who loses his memory, and his companion Hu Bugui as they venture into the 'Hidden Market' between yin and yang. The team drew inspiration from classic texts like 'Shan Hai Jing' and 'Liao Zhai', creating over 200 characters and visual assets to build a unique Eastern fantasy world.

iQiyi CEO Gong Yu emphasized that AI is meant to serve audiences and creators, not replace them. The AI director Liu Haiyang noted that AIGC's rapid iteration allows the team to test creative ideas quickly. iQiyi also plans to release a fully AI-generated film from the 'Soul Ferry' series in 2026.