Production has wrapped in Beijing on "VIII: Awakening," a fantasy adventure drama that marks KC Global Media Asia's first original China production. The S-grade series reimagines classic Chinese mythology for modern audiences and forms part of the company's push to expand its distribution business and creative production partnerships across international markets.

The 24-episode debut season, made up of 15-minute instalments, follows insurance investigator Lu Xian, who discovers a precognitive power and a lineage tied to an ancient guardian, prompting him to join seven others against a threat posed by imprisoned dragons. It stars Zhang Wan Ying, Leo Zhou and Nick Shan, is directed by Yu Ji and executive produced by KC Global Media Asia partners Andy Kaplan and George Chien, with production designer Meng Xun, known for work with John Woo and Wong Kar-Wai. The series is a partnership between CICC and Shanghai Qi'Ai Film & TV Culture Co., with KC Global Media Asia also handling international sales.