In Chinese mythology, Yang Jian, also known as Erlang Shen, is most famous for the third eye on his forehead, which could see through every object to access truth in the world. He is described to be often seen accompanied by a fierce deity dog, named Xiao Tian Quan (the dog barking against the heaven).

However, New Gods: Yang Jian, the latest outing in Shanghai-based Light Chaser Animation Studios' animated franchise inspired from Chinese mythologies, will give the audience a surprise with an unconventional retelling of the titular character.

Two trailers were released on Monday, showing that Yang — sort of like a fashionable street boy — pilots a boat-like vehicle to travel across a sea of clouds. Wearing a ribbon around his forehead, the "third eye" is invisible. Xiao Tian Quan, now white despite appearing in much darker colors in previous movies or animated series, is just like any normal puppy on the Earth, happily chasing after several birds in a scene.

The film is scheduled to open across China mainland in July, anticipated by some insiders and cinema operators as a potential blockbuster to uplift the sluggish market amid the current COVID-19 resurgence.