According to the Tongzhou district government, China's first original animation series integrating the computer-generated imagery (CGI) and live-action, produced by a Nantong company and the Nantong Zhou Ji Green Expo Garden, recently debuted on a Jiangsu province children's channel, airing from 7:05 to 7:35 pm.

The animation Zhou Zhou Lyu Zhi Meng (literally means "dreams in a green garden") will also be broadcast on CCTV, many video websites, and over 100 other TV stations in the near future.

It features real footage of the expo garden combined with CGI, making it appealing to children.

Many of the characters in the animation are based on real plants and some are endowed with special abilities. 

China's first original animation series integrating CGI with live action recently debuts on a Jiangsu province children's channel. The backgrounds are filmed at the Nantong Zhou Ji Green Expo Garden in Tongzhou district, Nantong. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

The show is aimed at teaching children about science, but humorous dialogue, facial expressions, and storylines are expected to entertain them as well.

In addition to various types of plants, the Nantong Zhou Ji Green Expo Garden also offers science activities, food, various items for sale, and other recreational activities. It is the only comprehensive botanical garden in the Yangtze River Delta region.

The garden is home to thousands of rare plants from around the world and features 10 pavilions themed around rainforests, tropical fruits, sand plants, famous flowers, and more.