About True Legend Studio
We are an independent North American company focused on high quality digital productions drawn from China’s rich history.
Through our 5000 Years of Heroes series, we bring you brilliant strategies, legendary feats and timeless wisdom. Our goal is to amaze and inspire you.
About 5000 Years of Heroes
The first season, “Han Xin,” follows the life of the legendary general who built the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD). By the age of 25, he was commander-in-chief of the Han army. In just over 4 years, he had conquered all of China. Later generations called him the “god of war.” Han Xin was a visionary leader who inspired with his daring strategies. He was also strong, generous, and loyal. He stayed true to his values even in the face of death, and has since become one of the most admired heroes in Chinese history.
Future seasons of the 5000 Years of Heroes series will tell the stories of other great leaders, emperors, poets, Taoists, conquerors, and rebels who shaped China’s history. Through their vision and deeds, they forged a mighty civilization that continues to inspire us today.
What Makes 5000 Years of Heroes Different
Through our productions, we aim to present authentic Chinese history and the values that enriched it. We research multiple sources, study artifacts and strive to understand the historical period. Even more importantly, we look at the values that guided these characters and events.
Rediscovering authentic Chinese history
Traditional Chinese culture was very spiritual and placed importance on the relationship between humanity, earth and heaven. We can see this in Chinese religions (Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism), in Chinese medicine, and in the customs that have been passed down from generation to generation. Traditional Chinese culture is at the core of understanding authentic Chinese history and values, and we use it as a guide for our productions.
Overcoming the cultural tragedy in mainland China today
In the past 70 years, traditional Chinese culture and history were drastically distorted in mainland China by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
During the Cultural Revolution (1966-76), the regime strove to eradicate the so-called “four-olds”: old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas. In other words, the CCP wanted to eradicate the traditional Chinese culture developed over 5000 years. Thugs destroyed countless historical buildings, monuments, books, and precious artifacts.
Through various persecution campaigns over the past decades, they also worked to ruin people’s beliefs and morals. This continues today with the persecution of spiritual groups in China, notably Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, and Uighur Muslims.
Through 5000 Years of Heroes, we want to reverse this trend and show the world the richness and depth of Chinese civilization.
Reclaiming authentic values in historical films
There has never been a time in which the regime was so antithetical to people’s culture and values as the CCP is today in mainland China. That is why the Chinese historical films produced there for the past decades are full of a distorted sense of history, guided by communist party culture and values. We have moved in the opposite direction and are creating films based on a traditional understanding of history. In this way, we can better understand the motivations behind historical events.
Finding inspiration in history
Like all civilizations, China has had its share of heroes and villains, yet what makes Chinese history especially rich, is the strong connection between humankind and Heaven. It is a culture filled with heroes, beauty, and divine inspiration. Much of this heritage has been lost, but we can still rediscover it today. It has much to teach us about ourselves and the world we live in.
We hope you enjoy our series and we look forward to your thoughts as you explore Chinese history. Join us in our 5000 Years of History Forum today!
Meet the Team
We are a small, but passionate team dedicated to creating digital experiences that improve our understanding of the world and our role in it.
Faye Li – Director & Writer
“When I read ancient Chinese books, especially those historical biographical records, I’m amazed by those historical characters – emperors, generals, and civilians. They were respectful and humble no matter what they had to face. Just like Han Xin, as a youth, he had forbearance towards those people who humiliated him. As general in chief, he respected his rivals. As a vassal king, he knew how to be loyal to his lord. There is a kind of inner peace in Chinese culture because this culture is rooted in the respect of the divine.”
Faye Li is a leading cross-media director & writer in Canada with 15 years in television and digital media production. Projects have included animated drama, animated kids series, iOS kids educational app/games, and interactive websites. Faye is the writer and director of the preschool property “Miaomiao.” Her latest project “Han Xin” is the first season of the web series “5000 Years of Heroes.”
Leo He – Producer
“I think history is character-driven – great heroes have forged culture, nations and history. They brought us legal systems, political and linguistic systems. They gave us literature and the arts. They taught us spirituality and faith in the divine.
“In our modern world, we often forget the connection to the past and the values our ancestors have given us. I feel it is my mission to tell the stories of these heroes to inspire, and perhaps lead us to create an even better future for ourselves and our children.”
Leo He is a leading cross-media producer in Canada with more than a decade of experience in television and digital media production. His projects include animated children’s series, animated dramas, historical TV series, digital comics, iOS kids educational app/games, and an iOS branching narrative game. One of his favourites is the preschool property “Miaomiao,” which includes an animated series, mobile apps and online media that teach children Chinese-language concepts. Another is “Shuyan the Kung Fu Princess,”an episodic action-adventure game for iOS that takes players on an action‐packed journey to discover the true essence of kung fu.