Barely had the epic Wimbledon showdown between Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic come to a close when, on July 22, the highly anticipated series “Fight On, Youngsters!” officially premiered in Hunan TV’s Youth Hour weekly slot and on Mango TV—grabbing the top spot in both viewership ratings on its very first day! The “Yuqing Boy Group” is here with all their passion, and this summer, join the Zhu brothers as they witness the tennis youngsters’ quest for a youthful Grand Slam.

“Strive, Youngsters!” is a youth sports–inspired drama that features heartfelt post-production contributions from the Zhu brothers, directed by Zhao Xiao’ou and Zhao Xiaoxi, and starring Peng Yuchang, Dong Li, Song Yiren, Zhang Yijie, and Xie Binbin.

The series tells the story of Lu Xia, a tennis prodigy, and his teammates, who push past their limits inspired by their shared dreams and camaraderie—moving from going it alone to gradually understanding the value of both teammates and even rivals—before ultimately grasping the true essence of the sport. On Hunan TV’s “Youth in Progress,” the show airs Monday through Wednesday at 10:00 PM, while Mango TV offers exclusive online streaming, with members able to watch an early sneak peek starting at 11:00 PM!

Notably, two-time Grand Slam women’s singles champion Li Na—recently inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame—and her husband Jiang Shan made a special appearance in the series, rallying together to support the development of tennis among China’s young athletes! (Sending all our love and admiration to Sister Na!)

This time, the Zhu brothers took charge of the series’ entire post-production pipeline—video editing, color grading, cutting, packaging, subtitling, and sound design—striving for perfection in every detail to deliver a visual feast that lets viewers truly experience the feeling of “seeing the face behind the words” and being immersed in the scene, while also adding their own contribution to the “young protagonists’” journey of striving and perseverance.

Seeing your writing is like seeing you in person.

On the subtitles, the Zhu Brothers’ subtitle team undertook thorough preparations to ensure the series’ professionalism and rigor. On one hand, they meticulously combed through the script, fine-tuning every detail to maintain an exacting standard of accuracy. On the other hand, they consulted extensive tennis-related materials and terminology, watched major tournaments such as the Australian Open, Wimbledon, the French Open, the US Open, and the Shanghai Masters, and studied the backgrounds of tennis legends like Li Na, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal—ensuring the subtitles’ professional integrity. Adhering to Hunan TV’s subtitle guidelines, they skillfully integrated contextual cues, enhancing and expanding on the visual content while helping viewers better grasp the plot, achieving a “seeing the characters in the words” effect that perfectly complements the narrative and adds the finishing touch.

A visual feast

Before color correction

After color adjustment

In color grading, to deliver a superior visual experience, the Zhu brothers’ color‑grading team meticulously refined color ratios and developed multiple grading schemes, coordinating closely with the series’ director and production team to lock in the final palette. Drawing on the show’s overall aesthetic, they precisely calibrated hue, saturation, and brightness, skillfully balancing warm and cool tones to achieve a fresh, natural look that complements the actors’ performances and the narrative arc. As the story unfolds, they introduced subtle shifts in color to reinforce the youthful tone of the series, ensuring each frame exudes both tension and texture while evoking the audience’s emotional engagement.

Immersive sound experience

To deliver high‑quality sound within a tight schedule, the Zhu brothers enlisted top‑notch sound engineers and state‑of‑the‑art recording equipment to ensure the audio for “Fight On, Youth!” was of the highest standard. Throughout both the pre‑production filming phase and post‑production, they maintained close collaboration with the director and the production team.

“Strive On, Youngsters!” features extensive on‑court action and emotionally charged scenes—both of which place significant demands on the post‑production mixer’s technical skill and patience. To handle these contrasting elements, the sound designers employed distinct approaches: during match sequences, the simultaneous onslaught of racket‑on‑ball impacts and actors’ live dialogue presents a formidable challenge. Throughout mixing, the engineers fine‑tuned the reverb on select dialogue tracks to authentically recreate the stadium atmosphere, rendering the crisp sound of tennis rackets alongside the athletes’ shouts and the crowd’s cheers with remarkable clarity and realism. Paired with the visual effects, this meticulous audio‑visual integration ensures seamless synchronization, heightening the intensity and tension of the scene. In contrast, for the emotional moments, the sonic backdrop is softer and more natural, emphasizing the authenticity of everyday human interactions and the nuanced ebb and flow of characters’ emotions.

Through close collaboration with the editing and color grading teams, the sound design meticulously crafts nuanced audio cues for each scene, immersing viewers in the story and delivering an “in‑the‑moment” experience. By blending sound and visuals, audiences can feel the young protagonists’ spirit of perseverance and determination, as well as the captivating allure of competitive sports.

The scissors hand is also a magician.

“Strive On, Youngsters!” is a sports‑themed youth inspirational drama. Compared with other genres, it features numerous fast‑paced scenes alongside substantial emotional arcs. Balancing narrative fluidity in just four minutes of opening and closing credits—navigating character relationships, conveying the story’s central message, and piquing viewers’ curiosity without giving away too much—poses a formidable challenge to the editor’s skill.

Take the opening sequence as an example: it begins with close-up shots of the lead actors—Lu Xia, Qiao Chen, Zhuo Zhi, and others—swinging their rackets, seamlessly linked together. This single‑take montage immediately conveys the series’ central themes of tennis and perseverance, while the collective debut of the “Yuqing Boy Group” underscores its youthful tone. The scene then transitions smoothly from one iconic moment to the next—whether a match, family bonds, friendships, or romance—immersing viewers in each setting and sparking their curiosity. All this vividly demonstrates the Zhu brothers’ exceptional skill as editors, their masterful command of pacing and storytelling, and their deep commitment to the project.

Magical Packaging

The opening and closing sequences are the “face” of a TV series, playing a crucial role in drawing viewers in. A standout opening and closing that keeps audiences engaged hinges on the meticulous design work of the packaging team. The Zhu brothers’ team of visual‑effects artists excels at creative concept development; responding to the director and producers of “Strive On, Youngsters!,” they crafted a custom‑made packaging solution—such as an original, comic‑style structural design for the main cast’s entrance in the opening. By thoughtfully refining the logo, the way the credits roll, and the presentation of the cast and crew, while seamlessly integrating color palettes, subtitles, and sound effects, the team has cultivated a youthful, inspirational atmosphere. Within tight time constraints, they deliver high‑quality, efficient packaging for trailers, openings, and closings.

The Zhu brothers’ departments collaborated seamlessly, lending crucial support to the post-production of this vibrant, high‑energy youth drama. From the nail‑biting tension on the tennis court to the nuanced portrayal of the “Xia Ying CP,” the series showcases the Zhu brothers’ masterful post‑production craftsmanship throughout—striving to deliver a top‑tier, spirited sports‑themed youth drama that injects a fresh wave of youthful energy into this summer and offers viewers a feast for the senses.

Now, join Pengpeng with a single tap and dive into this summer‑only 2019 celebration of youth!

And to wrap things up, here’s a special bonus: the editor proudly presents you with a binge-watching guide!