Screenshot of the animation Photo: screenshot of the video posted on the animation's website

An animated series that aims to introduce the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is set to debut on Saturday, the first such animated series in China. The series looks to transform the principle of the TCM into interesting stories for Chinese children, from 2 to 6 years old.

Lingcao Xiaozhanshi (lit: Herb Young Warrior) personifies several types of Chinese herbs as soldiers fighting viruses, according to a report from China Youth Daily. 

These "young warriors" are cultivated and trained by a doctor and when they grow up, they enter a person's body to eliminate germs as well as viruses to protect their health.

The series also incorporates one of today's most popular trends as one of its characters is a livestreamer that will introduce the life of herbs. 

The colorful scenes and adorable characters in the animation have been designed to attract the attention of children.

The report said that the production team for the series updated 19 design drafts and after completing the drafts, they brought in more than 400 children to collect suggestions.

The series pilot was shown in some kindergartens and elementary schools that gave positive feedback.  Lots of children were fond of the work.

Students learn to dispense traditional Chinese medicinal materials under the instruction of a pharmacist in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 21, 2020. Lessons on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) were introduced to schools across the country to welcome the annual World Traditional Medicine Day which falls on Oct. 22. (Photo by Jia Minjie/Xinhua)

TCM's effectiveness in fighting the COVID-19 virus has gotten international attention amid the on-going pandemic.

In a recentlypublished study, Chinese and German researchers have suggested that Shufeng Jiedu capsules, a patented herbal drug composed of eight medicinal plants, might be  "a promising herbal therapy for moderate COVID-19," as the Xinhua News Agency reported in November.

After recovering from a serious bout with COVID-19, former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko became a fan of TCM and called on the international society to earnestly study the medical tradition and  apply it in the fight against COVID-19 and other diseases.

A doctor surnamed Wu in the TCM department of a hospital in North China's Shanxi Province told the Global Times on Thursday that children should learn more about TCM herbs and therapy methods as they are also an important component of the traditional Chinese culture.

"An animated series is a good idea and maybe a breakthrough in introducing the TCM to children. I will recommend the work to my grandchildren," he said.

More than 1,000 episodes have been ordered and the first season will be divided into four parts with 26 episodes in each part. It will be broadcast on major Chinese streaming platforms and TV stations, including Youku and Tencent Video.