Three Body, a popular science fiction novel by Chinese writer Liu Cixin, will be animated by YHKT Entertainment, an animation producer that recently set up operations in the Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China), and Bilibili.com, China's largest online animation community, according to an announcement on June 26.

A scene from the teaser of Three Body, released on June 26 [Photo/whbc.com.cn]

The animation and game industries have been gaining momentum in Wuhan in recent years. Two industrial clusters have formed in Optics Valley and the Wuhan Creative Capital. 

By the end of 2018, there were around 210 animation and game enterprises in Wuhan, employing around 15,000 people. Among them, six are listed on the New OTC Market and two are national key enterprises. 

According to Zhang Min, president of the Wuhan Animation Association, the total output value of Wuhan’s animation and game industries exceeded 8.5 billion yuan ($1.23 billion) in 2018, with the talent education and training industry alone contributing over 200 million yuan. 

Around 30 to 50 animation and game activities are held annually, bringing annual revenue to nearly 50 million yuan and boosting consumption to over 100 million yuan. 

Optics Valley is one of two major animation and game clusters in Wuhan. [Photo/whbc.com.cn]