Animated images of late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping are shown in the upcoming documentary Mr. Deng goes to Washington. [Photo/Agencies]

For the young animator, animation can tell the story of that period of history better to younger viewers.

"At fist glance, animation may seem simple, but in reality, we need to do a large amount of homework, like checking what dishes were served at a dinner or what paintings were displayed in a particular room."

Zhu said he and the team went through a lot of historical documents and reviewed video footages in the process of creation.

The film includes footages of an attempted assassination by a Ku Klux Klan member as well as scenes of protesters rallying against Deng.

Details of the visit, including TV interviews with political heavyweights such as then-US president Jimmy Carter and national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, are also weaved into the film.

Fu said the film is in honor of Deng's contribution to China as well as his influence on generations of Chinese people.

Production was completed last year, which marked the 110th anniversary of Deng's birth and also the 35th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations.

The film will open nationwide on May 15.

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New documentary about Deng Xiaoping's US visit set for release