# iQIYI reconstructs lost 1938 sci-fi film with NadouPro AI tools

Digest AI · Robotics & Physical AI · published 2026-11-06T10:18:02Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/iqiyi-reconstructs-lost-1938-sci-fi-film-with-nadoupro-ai-tools

## Summary

iQIYI’s NadouPro platform helped an eight-person team reconstruct *Visiting Shanghai after Sixty Years*, a lost 1938 Chinese sci-fi comedy, using only still photos, posters, and newspaper clippings. The project, completed in two months at iQIYI-XMU Joint Laboratory, was shortlisted for the 2026 Golden Rooster Awards. The team avoided traditional restoration by generating new footage from fixed digital assets—character designs, costumes, and proportions—to ensure continuity across eras and scenes spanning 1938 and 1998.

NadouPro’s 3D Director Studio enabled precise control over camera angles, lighting, and movement, allowing directors to refine generated shots toward a clear visual style. The project builds on iQIYI’s decade-long AI restoration work, including its ZoomAI tool for repairing and enhancing film frames. Unlike past restorations, this effort prioritized creative reconstruction over recovering lost footage, blending historical context with AI-generated interpretation.

## Key points

- iQIYI’s NadouPro reconstructed a lost 1938 sci-fi film using only stills, posters, and clippings
- NadouPro’s 3D Director Studio gave directors precise control over generated scenes

## Why it matters

The project demonstrates how AI can bridge gaps in lost film archives by combining generative tools with historical context, offering a model for creative reconstruction beyond traditional restoration.

## Sources

1. [iQIYI Reconstructs Lost 1938 Film Using NadouPro AI Workflow](https://unite.ai/iqiyi-reconstructs-lost-1938-film-using-nadoupro-ai-workflow) (Unite.AI, 2026-11-06)

## Cite

Digest AI, "iQIYI reconstructs lost 1938 sci-fi film with NadouPro AI tools", 6 November 2026, https://digestai.news/story/iqiyi-reconstructs-lost-1938-sci-fi-film-with-nadoupro-ai-tools

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