Feast Your Eyes on the Lavish Backdrops of ‘Ne Zha 2'
The first Ne Zha film, released in 2020, is a story that blends elements of Chinese mythology with Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist influences. It follows Ne Zha (voiced by Crystal Lee), who is the reincarnation of an evil demon orb born to two human parents, Lady Yin (played by Michelle Yeoh) and Li Jing (portrayed by Vincent Rodriguez III).
In the first film, available to watch on Peacock, Ne Zha manages to overcome a prophecy that foretold his destruction of the world. His journey is aided by his nurturing parents, spiritual guidance from Master Taiyi (Rick Zieff), and his growing friendship with Ao Bing (voiced by Le), another child of prophecy tied to his own, who shares a dragon heritage that was once fated to be the cause of eternal enmity.
Ne Zha 2 sees the boys contend with the wrath of Ao Bing's dragon father, Ao Guang (Christopher Swindle), his aunts and uncles, and his former teacher Shen Gongbao (Daniel Riordan). Meanwhile, Ne Zha is tasked with defending his hometown, Chentang Pass, while facing a series of heavenly trials full of mystical kung fu action and dazzling animation.
Keep an eye out for io9's forthcoming review of the film. In the meantime, sit back, relax, and have a gander at some of the background art for Ne Zha 2. And before you ask, this isn't concept art; these are screenshots from the film. For those who want to enter the movie without spoilers, you may want to bookmark this page for later. Otherwise, check out how Beijing Enlight Media took to heart the concept of 'every frame a painting' with a preview of some of the film's lavish backdrops.
Main Hall of Yu Xu Palace © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Void Rift Encircling Chentang Pass. © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Star-Gazing Platform © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Chaotic Battle at the Flying Heaven Waterfall © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Furious Assault on Skull Mountain © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Void Rift Encircling Chentang Pass © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Farewell at the Chentang Pass Pier © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Daoist Temples Along the Mid-Slopes of Kunlun Mountain © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Tianyuan Cauldron Divides the Sea © A24/Beijing Enlight Media
Ne Zha 2 is set to release nationwide on August 22.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
Global Times: Sculptures of Nanjing Massacre remind viewers of Chinese people's suffering, hope for peace
08/15/2025, Beijing, China // KISS PR Brand Story PressWire // Literary and artistic works themed on the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), be they classic works created during the war or works looking back on history, all carry historical memories and the national spirit. Through artistic forms, they cross the long river of time, allowing us to deeply feel the fearlessness and perseverance of the Chinese people during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, while inspiring people's patriotic feelings. The Global Times launched this special series of Indelible Memories about literary and artistic works themed on the war to draw wisdom and strength from the spirit of the people. On a scorching summer day, stepping into the resting hall at Beijing's Imperial Ancestral Temple, visitors were greeted not only by a refreshing coolness but also by a profound sense of history. This gravity stemmed not just from the imposing centuries-old architecture, but even more from the collection of artworks on display - each capturing pivotal moments from the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. In particular, a group of sculptures on the white central exhibition platform commanded special attention. Each figure in this group of sculptures intensifies the visual impact of fear and despair through contorted bodies, hollow gazes, and torn garments. Some look up to the sky, some scream in silence, some struggle for survival, while others have already fallen, their lives lost. This is the work of Wu Weishan, former director of the National Art Museum of China. Titled Tao Nan, or Fleeing from Calamity, it is the theme sculpture for the expansion of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. On July 28, at the opening ceremony of this art exhibition, which highlights the perseverance and resistance of the Chinese people during the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Wu told the Global Times that the purpose of creating these sculptures is to remember history, not hatred. 'Art can serve to commemorate history and call for peace, fully expressing the Chinese people's values and love for peace,' he said. These sculptures are bearers of history, embodying the longing for peace. Such expressions run through generations of Chinese artistic creation - every line, every chisel mark, every brushstroke aims to ensure that people never forget. Turning sorrow into power The sculptures displayed in the main hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple are, on average, only a few dozen centimeters in height, while their enlarged versions stand solemnly at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province. Taken as a whole, this group of sculptures resembles a powerful musical movement: rising, falling, flowing, ascending, soaring. Spatially, the energy these sculptures project envelops viewers in an atmosphere of deep compassion and sorrow. Even before entering the memorial, visitors are already touched, so that once inside, each sight of a bone fragment or a blood-stained garment evokes boundless grief and reflection. In these sculptures created from 2005 to 2007, Wu avoided direct depiction of the Japanese army's atrocities, choosing instead to focus on the victims, capturing the devastation and suffering of Nanjing's residents during the massacre - their families shattered, their lives destroyed. He explained that these works are meant to 'bring the victims back to life,' allowing their last cries before death to express the shared voice of humanity. By giving form to the souls of all those who suffered, the sculptures become important vessels of the human spirit. Only in this way can artworks urge all humankind to reflect, so that the lessons of the past will never be forgotten. Outside the memorial, the sculptures were set within a pool symbolizing the path to escape terror, depicting 10 groups of 21 figures fleeing their homes in the wake of the bloody massacre. Nearly life-sized, these sculptures enhance the sense of realism. Among them are an elderly son supporting his octogenarian mother as they flee, a violated young woman standing by a well, and a monk closing the eyes of the wrongfully slain as he escapes. The sculptures are cast in a silvery-gray tone, distinct from the familiar bronze and copper hues, symbolizing the survivors' escape from overwhelming terror. The piece that moved the sculptor most was one of an infant clinging to his deceased mother, seeking milk from her lifeless body. This work is based on the harrowing experience of Nanjing Massacre survivor Chang Zhiqiang's family. Three of his younger brothers were bayoneted to death, his mother fatally stabbed in the lungs. Amidst tears, he placed his youngest brother beside their mother, and the infant crawled to her chest to nurse. That final drop of milk marked both an end and a fragile hope. By the next day, mother and child had frozen together in the bitter cold, never to be parted. The process of creating these sculptures was far from tranquil for Wu. Immersed in historical research and interviews with survivors like Chang Zhiqiang and Xia Shuqin, he was deeply affected by the anguish and outcries captured in old photographs and personal stories. Many sleepless nights followed, and even as he walked through the old districts of Nanjing, he would sometimes imagine hearing the echoes of explosions and cries of slaughter. Wu employed a variety of sculpting techniques - chiseling, striking, pounding, and molding by hand. He recalled working outdoors in the sweltering 38 C heat, laboring through the night for hours. His deep sorrow and anguish over this chapter of history were transformed into the speed and power of his artistic creation. Looking further back, this passionate engagement with the history of the war - a fervor that transforms into powerful artistic energy - has also flowed from the hands of the elder generations of artists, many of whom witnessed these events firsthand. Their collective memory and creative expression have ensured that the tragedy and heroism of that era continue to live on, warning and inspiring future generations through the language of art. Never forget Xiao Feng, the 10th president of the China Academy of Art, passed away in Hangzhou on July 8 at the age of 93. He created a work depicting Canadian surgeon Norman Bethune treating Eighth Route Army soldiers during the War against Japanese Aggression, which was included in textbooks across the country. Xiao Ge, his youngest daughter, told the Global Times that her father had been proud all his life of being a literary and art soldier in the New Fourth Army. Depicted in the painting jointly created by Xiao and his wife Song Ren is a makeshift operating table that was set up in a dilapidated temple not far from the front lines. Outside, the sounds of war rage on, while inside, Bethune stands calm and focused, his brow slightly furrowed and lips pressed tightly together as he meticulously performs surgery on a wounded soldier. In the background, a vigilant guard stands watch at the temple door, ever alert to protect the scene within. Critics note that through artistic treatment, the image's sense of narrative, drama, and conflict is enhanced in the painting, effectively highlighting Bethune's contributions to resisting aggression and pursuing peace. Xiao's works are mostly tied to his experiences and memories from the war. In his creations, there have been images of guerrilla fighters maneuvering through the Luoxiao Mountains, New Fourth Army soldiers bidding farewell to Jiangnan, officers and soldiers watering their horses by the Yangtze River, and warriors hidden among reeds. His works go beyond mere narratives of suffering, focusing instead on capturing moments of warmth amidst the chaos of war. 'They (Xiao and Song) pursued truth, goodness and beauty, worked for their beliefs and the people all their lives, and finally donated all their works to the people,' the painter's daughter said. On the eastern side of the exhibition hall displaying Wu's sculptures, the painting Victory and Harmony by post-1990 artist Hong Fangzhou hangs on the red wall of the East Wing Hall of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, quietly awaiting an audience. This artwork is divided into two main sections of white and red, blending fragments of war - like the remnants of shells and the blood and tears of heroes - with the joyful laughter of people celebrating peace after victory. The stark contrast between the two sides further underscores the preciousness of peace. From Xiao, a witness and survivor of war, to young artist Hong, each generation of creators has used their own unique perspectives and artistic forms to capture that history of blood and fire, passing on the longing for peace. As Wu expressed in a poem he inscribed upon completing this group of sculptures: With unspeakable sorrow, I recall those blood-soaked storms; With trembling hands, I caress the souls of the 300,000 departed; With a child's pure heart, I engrave the pain of this suffering nation. I pray, I hope, for the awakening of this ancient people - the rise of the spirit! Source: Global Times: Company: Global Times Contact Person: Anna Li Email: [email protected] Website: City: Beijing Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Source published by Submit Press Release >> Global Times: Sculptures of Nanjing Massacre remind viewers of Chinese people's suffering, hope for peace
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Haidilao to give out $800,000 dining vouchers as Clarke Quay outlet closes Aug 2025
For many Singaporeans, their first taste of Haidilao's legendary tomato broth, hand-pulled la mian, and warm service might have been at Haidilao's outlet. Come 31 Aug, this chapter will close for good. Haidilao's Clarke Quay outlet — the chain's very first store in Singapore and its first venture outside mainland China — will shutter its doors after 13 years, as its lease comes to an end. When it first opened in 2012, the riverside location quickly became a go-to for late-night suppers, birthday celebrations, and even a sobering post-club hotpot. It was here that many diners first experienced free manicures while waiting for a table, snacks on the house, and staff who remembered their favourite dipping sauce mix. Today, Haidilao has grown to more than 15 outlets across Singapore and expanded to countries like the U.S., Canada, and Australia. But Clarke Quay will always be the '一店', or 'original store' that started it all. To mark the occasion, Haidilao and CQ @ Clarke Quay will be giving away more than S$800,000 worth of dining vouchers to eligible members. Each member will receive an e-voucher worth S$20, redeemable at any Haidilao outlet in Singapore with no minimum spend. From Aug 18 to 29, diners visiting the Clarke Quay branch during selected hours will also stand a chance to win vouchers for Haidilao's sister brands, Hi Hot Pot and Hi Noodle, through a lucky draw. While the Clarke Quay unit is set to welcome a new concept after its closure, hotpot lovers can still get their fix at other branches, with the nearest ones located at Plaza Singapura, Bugis+, and Marina Square. As bittersweet as it is, you still have 2 weeks to savour those nostalgic moments at Clarke Quay. And while this marks the end of an era for Haidilao's first Singapore outlet, for anyone who's ever huddled around its steaming pots with loved ones, the memories (and spice) is sure to linger on. 10 places to feast at Clarke Quay Central before your next big night out The post Haidilao to give out $800,000 dining vouchers as Clarke Quay outlet closes Aug 2025 appeared first on
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Best Nike SB Dunks of All Time, Ranked
No matter how much Nike beats the Dunk into the ground, no matter how many Panda Dunks you encounter on your daily commute, no matter how much SB can lose its way or feel too big for its own good at times, there will always be something special about Nike SB Dunks. The Nike SB Dunk, a revamp of the Dunk basketball shoe from 1985 (that usually features a puffy tongue and other skate-specific upgrades), debuted in 2002. It's a skate shoe, but it was more than that from the beginning. In the same way the SB Dunk appropriated the Dunk, helping the shoe transcend its original arena, the SB Dunk was in turn appropriated, plucked from the shelves of skate shops and turned into the ultimate in peacock wear for sneakerheads. SB Dunks were a flex, a means of differentiating yourself with flashier, rarer, harder-to-find sneakers. They showed that you knew where to go to get sneakers nobody else could. Or that you were willing to pay huge prices to get them. For many sneaker collectors who grew into the hobby in the 2000s, the SB Dunk was a foundational shoe. It was the first model that taught that generation about the allure of the quickstrike, the collab. Nike SB Dunks have been up and down ever since—the golden era was undoubtedly the mid-2000s, followed by the dark age of the 2010s and then a renaissance in the 2020s—but they've always meant something. Here, in the celebration of the SB Dunk, we ranked the 25 best versions of the shoe that have ever existed. These are the best Nike SB Dunks of all time. All products are independently selected by our editors. Complex may collect a share of sales from the links on this page if you decide to shop them. COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. 25. Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low Year: 2020When Travis Scott's Dunk collab dropped in 2020, you couldn't have handpicked a better time for it to happen. Travis was at the absolute top of the sneaker world and Dunks were the most popular sneakers on the planet—largely because of the rapper. Travis started posting pictures on IG and showing up in public wearing rare Dunks from an earlier era. Any time he stepped out in another pair of Dunks, the resale price would skyrocket, bringing tons of new hype to the Nike SB line. On its own, the Travis Scott x Nike SB Dunk Low features a tear away bandana pattern, plaid underlays, and a familiar brown, beige, and black colorway. While the hype for SBs has cooled off in general, it's certainly still there for this pair, you're not going to be able to copy one for anything less than around $1,500. —Ben Felderstein 24. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Blue Lobster' Year: 2009When Concepts was tasked to follow up their original 'Lobster' collab with a new Nike SB project in 2009, the Boston-based boutique decided to reference a unique lore of the crustacean with the 'Blue Lobster' SB Dunk Low. As the story goes, one in every two million lobsters is found to have a rare blue pigmentation on its shell, which inspired the second colorway in Concepts' 'Lobster' series. The sneaker's upper has speckled suede panels as a nod to the lobster shell and includes rubber bands to put on the toe box, mimicking how the crustaceans appear when sold. Concepts also had a special release for the sneaker at its store in Boston, which came with an exclusive foam box and was limited to only 200 units. It's also worth mentioning that a friends-and-family 'Yellow Lobster' SB Dunk Low was also created in '09 alongside the blue-based version, referencing the one-in-40 million odds of finding a yellow lobster out at sea. —Victor Deng 23. Nike SB Dunk High 'Lucky' Year: 2004There aren't as many Highs on this list as Lows. And I'm OK with that. This might not be an obvious choice, either. But the Lucky and Unlucky Dunks were such a cool two-shoe series. The Luckys are the ones for me. Gold shoe. Green hits. It looks awesome. Tan suede mixed with gold panels. The number 7. The Unluckys are black and red and have the number 13. A cool yin and yang concept. I remember seeing this gold and green 10 Deep varsity jacket in Boston back in the day. And I told myself I would buy the jacket if I could get the sneakers. I never got the sneakers. And I regret it. —Matt Welty 22. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Denim' Year: 2002The Denim SB Dunk Low was part of the original Orange Box run of styles in 2002. The sneaker was designed in collaboration with one of the original members of the Nike SB pro team, Reese Forbes, and designer Natas Kaupas, and is inspired by a pair of denim that Forbes had released around the same time. The sneaker had a striking design as compared to the other SBs that released during that era, featuring frayed and distressed denim indigo panels. Like the other releases during the early SB era, the sneaker released in limited numbers and is still one of the more sought-after pairs in its lineage. —Victor Deng 21. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Raygun' Year: 2005The Raguns SBs came in two colorways: home and away editions for the fictitious ABA Roswell Rayguns team on which they were based. The highlight though was the basketball-headed alien graphic that appeared on the heel of both versions. The concept was revisited in 2019, updating the original designs with tie-dye graphics inspired by Nike SB-founder Sandy Bodecker. The theme even made its way to Kyrie Irving's Nike signature line, appearing on models including the Nike Kyrie 3 and 7. None of the follow-ups quite hit like the first though, which still stands as one of the best Dunks in Nike SB history. —Zac Dubasik 20. Ben & Jerry's x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Chunky Dunky' Year: 2020By far the newest sneaker on this list, the Ben & Jerry's x Nike SB Dunk Low had the sneaker world in a chokehold in 2020. Whether you loved it or hated it, there was no avoiding the Chunky Dunky. Any time you pulled up X (which we called 'Twitter' back then), there was a picture of the ice cream carton-inspired special box, or there was Hikment Sugoer eating actual ice cream out of a pair , or there were people arguing about if the shoe was amazing or terrible. Regardless, it felt like a return to form for the Swoosh's SB label, which colored up the iconic Dunk with flashy colors and faux cow hair. It was one of the more important SB Dunks in an era that brought in a whole new crowd to fawn over the shoes. At the end of the day, the Chunky Dunkys were one of those pairs that made their way into the mainstream. I don't know about you, but once a year I'll get a text from a random family member saying, 'Wow did you see these shoes, they're insane.' And in 2020 that text was always centered on the Ben & Jerry's x Nike SB Dunk Low. —Ben Felderstein Shop StockX's inventory of the Ben & Jerry's x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Chunky Dunky' here . 19. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Supa' Year: 2002At first there were four. It wasn't an easy ask to get skaters into Nike skateboarding shoes in 2002. It seemed like the least cool thing that could have happened back then. But Nike huddled around the right guys, a crew of undeniable legends in street skating: Richard Mulder, Reese Forbes, Gino Iannucci, and Danny Supa. The last of those was an East Coast staple, a New York City icon. Supa's bouncy, big pop style caught people's attention in skate videos like Zoo York's Mix Tape. And he wanted to represent NYC with his first dunk release. His shoe came in a white, orange, and blue, a close match for some of the city's beloved sports squads. It stood out amongst the original Dunks. Gino's was all black. Reese went wheat. And Mulder based his off a Nike Tennis Classic he bought at an outlet. I have a soft spot for the Mulders. But the Supas are the ones that people keep going back to, even 22 years later. —Matt Welty Shop StockX's inventory of the Nike SB Dunk Low 'Supa' here . 18. Huf x Nike SB Dunk High Year: 2004How would the hippies who made Haight-Ashbury famous feel about a corporate behemoth like Nike channeling their aesthetic for a limited edition tchotchke? That's too big a question to answer in this space, but we can tell you for certain that sneaker people loved it. This collab with Keith Hufnagel's namesake brand celebrated its San Francisco home with powerful tie-dye panels and distressed leather uppers. Not only is it one of the best SB Dunks of all time, it's also one of the standout SB Dunk Highs—let's face it, the Lows have historically made more impact. Hufnagel, an icon of skateboarding who passed in 2020, gave the world a handful of memorable sneakers through his Nike work; this was the best. —Brendan Dunne Shop StockX's inventory of the Huf x Nike SB Dunk High here . 17. Nike SB Dunk High 'Skunk' Year: 2010There isn't much that perfectly describes the relationship that Nike SB has with the rest of Nike more than the amount of sneakers it's created that celebrate weed. A company the size of Nike that markets to just about everyone from professional athletes to children, and everyone in between, isn't exactly the company you'd expect to see aligning itself with cannabis. But that's exactly what makes the SB division special: left-of-center projects and collaborations that the bigger brand wouldn't be able to get away with otherwise. In 2010 Nike employee and artist Todd Brartrud pitched the idea of the 'Skunk' Dunk to the SB division and it was met with high praise. With an upper dressed in hairy suede, the inspiration behind the shoe is about as subtle as a bong rip, sporting a number of green shades and a contrasting purple Swoosh and outsole. Nike SB has released many weed-themed Dunks since , but to this day the 'Skunks' are the most recognizable and have set the high standard that all weed sneakers will be held to. —Ben Felderstein Shop StockX's inventory of the Nike SB Dunk High 'Skunk' here . 16. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Hunter' Year: 2004Reese Forbes was one of the original members of the Nike SB team and designed multiple Dunks during his tenure. In fact, his Denim SB Low from 2002 came very close to also making this list. The Hunter, however, landed during the height of Pink Box mania in 2004, had far more hype, and even better represented what SBs were all about at the time. The striking colorway mixed burlap underlays and canvas camouflage overlays with safety orange accents, and featured a quilted lining so overstuffed that sizing up was recommended. No one needed to explain that this was a special shoe—one look was all it took to know that this wasn't a typical Nike. That ability to exude prestige, without anyone even necessarily knowing the stories behind the shoes, was a common trait among the best of Nike SB. —Zac Dubasik Shop StockX's inventory of the Nike SB Dunk Low 'Hunter' here . 15. MF DOOM x Nike SB Dunk High Year: 2007One of the major points of differentiation between the Nike SB of the 2020s and the Nike SB of the 2000s is the partners they've picked for sneaker collaborations. In this decade, SB has worked with the biggest rapper in the world , a ubiquitous convenience store chain , and Ben & Jerry's. Before SB went pop, things felt more underground. Their collaborators were more aligned with the core characteristics of skateboarding: rebellious, misunderstood, alternative. MF DOOM, an evil genius whose madcap raps made him a critical darling at the turn of the at the turn of the century, was one of the beneficiaries of this strategy. His shoes sought to recreate his supervillain persona with gunmetal coloring and art pulled from his most beloved projects. It was an ideal overlap for rap nerds and sneaker nerds—if you were into DOOM at the time, you were well acquainted with the thrill of copping rare gear from his oeuvre (salute to anyone who paid big bucks for the Fondle 'Em pressing of Operation Doomsday on Ebay). —Brendan Dunne Shop StockX's inventory of the MF DOOM x Nike SB Dunk High here . 14. De La Soul x Nike SB Dunk High Year: 2005Nike SB Dunk designs have rarely embraced subtlety, but this 2005 collaboration with hip-hop pioneers De La Soul was a lot even by those standards. The group's debut album, Three Feet High and Rising, served as aesthetic inspiration for the project, and the list of features includes (but is not limited to): green elephant print, brown nubuck, orange piping, and panels with lenticular animations. The project also included a slightly more subdued Dunk Low in white with the aforementioned lenticular animation panels in yellow. Nike SB would revisit these models in 2015, helping to lead an era where it flipped a handful of beloved Dunks in altered formats . In the case of these Dunks, this meant swapping the colorways between their original High and Low cuts. The original De La Soul High has always been the true standout of the bunch though, and captured both the look and personality of its namesake group perfectly. —Zac Dubasik Shop StockX's inventory of the De La Soul x Nike SB Dunk High here . 13. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Jedi' Year: 2004Pop culture/sneaker crossovers are far too common these days. Frankly, most of them aren't good. But the unofficial pop culture references that Nike SB was doing back in the 2000s still hold up as some of the best examples we've ever seen. Part of it is probably because they were unsanctioned. These things likely don't hit the same with a Star Wars logo on the tongue or Yoda's face on the insole, to be honest. But enough of the hypotheticals. What Nike SB did deliver with its 'Jedi' SB Dunk Lows in 2004 was nothing short of amazing. The mix of its tan suede upper, green leather overlays, and brown accents on the Swoosh and midsole to match the robe and skin of the Jedi master work so well together. It's also immediately apparent what these things are inspired by without leaning on corny details or being super gimmicky. The neon green laces and contrast stitching that nod to Yoda's lightsaber make them that much better. You don't even need to like Star Wars to think this shoe is incredible (this writer has never seen a single movie in the franchise and still does). As Yoda would say: one of the best, this sneaker is. —Mike DeStefano Shop StockX's inventory of the Nike SB Dunk Low 'Jedi' here . 12. Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Lobster' Year: 2008Boston-based boutique Concepts has made plenty of great sneakers with numerous brands since its inception. None of them are as important as 2008's 'Red Lobster.' For starters, the theme and execution are the reason we love Nike SBs so much. The speckled suede overlays to mimic a lobster's shell. The rubber bands around the toe like the ones around a crustacean's claws at the seafood market (please don't wear them with the bands on). The checkered lining is akin to the table cloth you lay out for before your feast on your seafood boil. Concepts thought about every little detail of the presentation and the result was a perfect ode to New England's stellar seafood. These also came at a time when the red-hot hype around SB Dunks had cooled a bit, so for Concepts to deliver such a universally beloved hit was impressive. But most importantly, the 'Red Lobster' was so big that it started an entire franchise. To date, Concepts has revisited the 'Lobster' theme six times since the original red version (blue, yellow, green, purple, orange, and white). When you become a shop's signature, you deserve your flowers. —Mike DeStefano Shop StockX's inventory of the Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Lobster' here . 11. Stussy x Nike SB Dunk Low Year: 2005Is this Stüssy's best Nike collab of all time? We think so. And we aren't the only ones. I mean, what's not to like? Nike SB linked up with one of the most important streetwear brands of all time. The color combination of pink, brown, and cream, inspired by the three flavors featured in Neopolitan ice cream, just look amazing together. The red cherry on the tongue is, well, the cherry on top. While the old heads in your life may try and tell you these things weren't as coveted as some of their contemporaries when they originally released in 2005, that doesn't mean they were a total dud or something. Plus, in the years since, the Stüssy SB Dunks have been given a second life that you can't just overlook when you consider its place in sneaker history. A co-sign from Travis Scott as SBs were regaining popularity in 2019 caused old pairs of these to skyrocket in value. It might not be a stretch to say that the younger generation considers these the greatest SB Dunk Low of all time. While it's a wrinkle that makes these that much more special, the shoe didn't need it to be considered a standout from the Pink Box era . It's just another cherry on top of the sundae. —Mike DeStefano Shop StockX's inventory of the Stussy x Nike SB Dunk Low here . 10. Futura x Nike SB Dunk High 'Flom' Year: 2004For love or money? That was the prophetic choice graffiti writer and hip-hop renaissance man Futura posed on this ambitious SB Dunk from 2004. 'It was an indirect message/question to the global streetwear community at large,' Futura recently wrote on Instagram. The shoe pushed the boundaries of graphic prints on footwear, covering the upper with images of different denominations of cash from around the world. Like many of the most elusive shoes on this list, it might have pushed the boundaries too far—the 'FLOM' SB Dunk never got a proper release, and was a friends and family exclusive. The sneaker showed up as SB Dunk hype was first cresting, and its theme of currency vs. culture was immediately resonant in a scene when reselling still felt taboo and secondary market cash outs weren't necessarily something to boast about . Well before Nike decided that (relatively) limited edition sneakers were an easy means of printing money, Futura did the obvious and had Nike literally print the money. —Brendan Dunne Shop StockX's inventory of the Futura x Nike SB Dunk High 'Flom' here . 9. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Freddy' Year: UnreleasedThe 'Freddy' is in some ways the epitome of the SB Dunk as a genre. Like many SB classics, the sneaker uses recognizable design cues to allude to a pop culture moment (A Nightmare on Elm Street, in this instance) without officially being connected to it. These days, Nike SB is a lot more inclined to do partnerships with big brands and intellectual property , but in the heyday of SB Dunks, they would more often settle for unofficial references. Those references made the shoes feel more daring and irreverent—at least with respect to the legal teams involved in handling their release. That's another thing that makes this one special. The 'Freddy' SB Dunk never got a proper launch; the legend goes that the shoe prompted the threat of litigation from New Line Cinema, so Nike pulled it. The shoe might be too special to rank too high here—it really is the kind of unicorn that not many people were able to enjoy or participate in—but it's still a grail and the kind of cheeky, elusive colorway that made SB so much fun in the 2000s. —Brendan Dunne Shop StockX's inventory of the Nike SB Dunk Low 'Freddy' here . 8. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Heineken' Year: 2003In the early days of Nike SB, there were a lot of unofficial references in the sneakers. Most of them were not officially licensed like they are these days. The most infamous of them all might be the 'Heineken' Dunk. It hit the shelves in 2003 at skate shops. It was a white and green Dunk with Heineken's recognizable star logo on the heel. The shoe was promptly pulled, but not before some people could purchase it. Word has it that the brewer sent Nike a cease and desist over the shoes. It's one of those shoes that became an instant grail. I remember people wearing these on NikeTalk and just thought, 'This is what it's all about.' I've never really liked drinking Heineken, but in the '90s it was the beer of East Coast hip-hop and skateboarding. And mixing it with Nike SB just made sense. It was a shoe about the crossroads of culture, and those who participated in all of it back then. There were rumblings of the shoe coming back in some form, thanks to Heineken posting an image after Tiffany teased its official Nike collab . But none of that has been substantiated—we chalk it up to Heineken just being thirsty. Kind of funny to see after the brand initially shut down the shoe. If you want a pair now, you're gonna have to dish out more than $5,000. —Matt Welty Shop StockX's inventory of the Nike SB Dunk Low 'Heineken' here . 7. Supreme x Nike SB Dunk High Year: 2003Supreme's Air Jordan 3-inspired Dunk Lows from 2002 helped lead both Supreme and Nike SB to new levels of hype, but its three-pack of Dunk Highs the following year even better represented the vibe that the NY-based brand is best known for. It featured gold stars on the mid panels, a gold Supreme lace bar, and bold accent colors of red, orange, and university blue with croc-skin embossing. Nike SB and Supreme returned to this playbook in 2021 and ran back a four-pack of Dunk Lows with the same theme. A lot had changed in the 18 years since the Highs released, but the new versions quickly sold out and still go for several times their retail price on the resale market. A case could be made that it was a shameless play to capitalize on past success rather than creating something new, but either way, it was a testament to the juice still possessed by the original. —Zac Dubasik Shop StockX's inventory of the Supreme x Nike SB Dunk High here . 6. 'What the' Nike SB Dunk Low Year: 2007There have been some cringe-inducing takes on the 'What The' concept over the years—the world was certainly never asking for the What The Nike PG 6 . But despite Nike Basketball running the concept into the ground, it's never dulled the impact of the original What The Dunk. The mash-up sneaker was something we'd never seen when it was released in 2007 to coincide with Nike SB's Nothing But the Truth skate video. It made complete sense too; the individual colorways were so unique that they were immediately recognizable in a sea of mismatched panels. The overall aesthetic was crazy, yet it just worked. And almost 20 years later, it's still fun to pick out the different pieces. That typically has to be done via pictures though, because the shoes were extremely limited and expensive from the start. What had always been a four-figure shoe on the resale market has become a five-figure shoe over time. The What The Dunk may not be greater than the sum of its parts, and doesn't make it to the very top of the list, but those parts are so good that it's close. —Zac Dubasik Shop StockX's inventory of the 'What the' Nike SB Dunk Low here . 5. Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low Year: 2002This shoe was a first in several categories. It was Supreme's first Nike SB shoe. And the first non-Jordan to have cement print. Released in 2002, the Supreme SB Dunk Lows referenced both the 'Black/Cement' and 'True Blue' Air Jordan 3s. The sneakers also almost didn't happen at all. In 2001, Supreme made a 'Fuck Nike' T-shirt and also a 'Downlow' sneaker that was a rip off of the Air Force 1, down to the box it came in—tan/red instead of Nike's tan/orange. The sneakers were only released in store at Supreme's original location on Lafayette Street in New York City. Supreme founder James Jebbia wasn't happy at the time that Nike was trying to get into skateboarding originally. 'They hit up James for all this information because he's got a skate shop in New York, Supreme, and they see what's going on. They ended up doing their own thing and did not include James,' said former Supreme designer Geoff Heath in a story published on Complex . 'He gets all pissed off, calls me up and says, 'Hey, you know the Nike font? Can you make 'Fuck Nike' T-shirts in that Nike font?' No problem—banged it out real quick. He comes over and tells us the story: They had wined and dined him twice and left him in the dust.' Luckily they set aside their differences and were able to make the Dunks and change the course of the sneaker industry. The shoes referenced Air Jordans, making a connection between historical basketball shoes that OG collectors could appreciate. Starting from this duo of Dunks in 2002, Supreme and Nike have enjoyed a long, fruitful relationship together that continues to this day. —Matt Welty Shop StockX's inventory of the Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low here . 4. Unkle x Nike SB Dunk High Year: 2004First thing's first—this is not an official Futura collaboration. Yes, the shoe has his Pointman characters and atomic circles on the upper, but it technically was a project between Nike and Unkle, the British trip hop group founded by James Lavelle. Not that that matters that much. This is one of those sneakers that was hot purely off the way it looked; it would be a stretch to imagine any more than a small sliver of the public who stood in line for these sneakers could name you five Unkle songs. (The connections between Lavelle's record label Mo' Wax and Nike run deep but, again, that context is not why people care about the Dunkles.) The sneaker went graphic without getting cheesy, and felt like an exclamation point without using the blasts of color that SB Dunks often relied on. It's probably the best Futura x Nike collab ever, even if it actually isn't. —Brendan Dunne Shop StockX's inventory of the Unkle x Nike SB Dunk High here . 3. Nike SB Dunk Low 'Paris' Year: 2003The idea that SB Dunks, Dunks, or sneakers in general are a canvas for cultural expression is one of the most tired cliches one can use to describe limited edition footwear. It's the type of phrase a top-ranking sneaker brand exec will drop in an investor call, or that you resort to at Thanksgiving when trying to explain to distant relatives why you paid four figures for those absurd looking things on your feet. If there was ever an instance in which the description was apt and justified though, this right here is it. The 'Paris' SB Dunk, part of Nike SB's epic city series from 2003, is an homage to the French capital through the artwork of painter Bernard Buffet. Each pair is unique, using a different overlay of canvas pulled straight from a Buffet piece. The super limited Nikes showed how sneakers could transcend footwear and become legit pieces of art. One sneakerhead, Andre 'Croatian Style' Ljustina, sought to corner the market on the shoes when they dropped in Paris by buying as many as he could, and subsequently blew the minds of NikeTalk users when he posted a group pic showing off his spoils. Like legit fine art, the 'Paris' SB Dunks were prized as tools of commerce, and one of the first super expensive SB Dunks that ignited fervor for Dunk collecting. —Brendan Dunne Shop StockX's inventory of the Nike SB Dunk Low 'Paris' here . 2. Staple x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Pigeon' Year: 2005Jeff Staple's Nike SB Dunk Low 'Pigeon' is quite possibly the sneaker on this list most representative of sneaker culture as a whole. It caused a mini riot upon its release in 2005 and to this day is often regarded as one of the best and most memorable drops ever. So hyped was the release that people forked over $300 for the 'Pigeon' SB Dunk's retail drop, an over-box-price tag that was unheard of at the time. Released as part of Nike SB's city-themed series, people began lining up in the streets at Staple's Reed Space shop on New York's Lower East Side days before the actual design of the sneaker had even been revealed. The mainstream media took the story and ran with it, labeling it a 'sneaker frenzy,' which put sneaker lineups on the map and under a microscope . Aesthetically, the 'Pigeon' Dunks do a perfect job representing NYC, featuring the city's infamous winged mascot and a color scheme resembling the concrete jungle. Staple capitalized on the insane notoriety his Pigeons received, creating an entire brand anchored around the bird, and still releases apparel and collabs in the same vein almost two decades later. That's how major the impact of the 'Pigeon' Dunks is. —Ben Felderstein Shop StockX's inventory of the Staple x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Pigeon' here . 1. Diamond x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Tiffany' Year: 2005There could only be one. No shoe, in our opinion, embodies what a Nike SB Dunk was and should be better than the Diamond Supply Co. collaboration that most people call the 'Tiffany' Dunk. Created by Nick Tershay (aka Nicky Diamond) in 2005, the sneaker was part of the 'Team Manager' series that also included the Stüssy Dunk. The shoe uses Tiffany and Co.'s iconic color scheme with faux croc skin for a truly luxury looking design. 'I don't know if it is the greatest SB. I think at the time it was the most hyped one,' Tershay told Complex in 2018. 'In 2005, I feel that maybe a lot of it had to do with that it was such an original colorway that nobody ever used, which is weird because it has been a Tiffany and Co. colorway for so many years. I never saw it on any T-shirts, apparel, sneakers, or anything before, so I was like, 'Fuck, man, I'm just going to throw it on a shoe.'' He posted a pic of himself holding the sneaker on MySpace and it went viral back then. Ahead of the release, everyone wanted them. The Diamond Dunk was one of the first shoes where shop owners started to headcrack customers, charging way over the box price. Chris Rice, the founder of the skate shop Identity in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was working at Eastern Boarder when the Tiffany came out. He remembers the shoes arriving on Friday and a huge line forming by Saturday morning. 'The first kid was like, 'Do you have the Tiffanys?'" recalls Rice. "He's like, 'Do you have an 8?' And I was like, 'Yeah, they're 150 bucks.' And he's like, 'Yeah, no worries.' And I sold all of them in a row for 150 bucks. And from that point on, it was just money." There was a legendary figure, the Tiffany Kid , who wore a matching head-to-toe fit with them at an Undefeated release. There were plenty of fakes of Tiffany Dunks. Even our own Joe La Puma got beat with a fake pair. Diamond collaborated with Nike SB on three Dunks again in 2018, and a riot broke out over them at ComplexCon. There was a high-top pair of Diamond Dunks in 2014, but it wasn't the same. Those sequels just show that the original truly is the zenith of SB Dunks. I guess they were right when they said diamonds are forever. —Matt Welty Shop StockX's inventory of the Diamond x Nike SB Dunk Low 'Tiffany' here . Related Stories , , Related News Ronnie Fieg Previews New Kith x Adidas Superstar Collab Ja Morant's Ja 3 Is Coming to Nike By You Soon COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess. Making Culture Pop. Find the latest entertainment news and the best in music, pop culture, sneakers, style and original shows. Solve the daily Crossword
