Latest news with #ShanghaiAnimationFilmStudio
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Nobody' set to become somebody in cinematic history
Nobody by Shanghai Animation Film Studio has become a huge hit this summer. Photo: Following the steps of the blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2', another Chinese animated film has gone viral with its innovative interpretation of ancient Chinese mythologies. 'Nobody' by Shanghai Animation Film Studio has become a major sleeper hit this summer, having grossed 776 million yuan (about 108.73 million US dollars) since its debut on Aug 2, smashing the record for Chinese-made 2D animated films, previously held by 'Big Fish & Begonia,' according to ticketing platform Beacon. Between Tuesday and Thursday, it even outperformed the historical movie 'Dead to Rights,' which is so far the top grosser in the bustling summer movie-going season, on daily box office charts. Industry tracker Maoyan has projected its total box office to exceed 1.7 billion yuan. Beyond a box office hit, it is also a critical darling. On Douban, a film review platform known for its stringent ratings, the animation has scored an impressive 8.6, edging out 'Ne Zha 2,' the most-watched and highest-grossing film ever in China, by 0.1 points. 'Both 'Ne Zha 2' and 'Nobody' are excellent. The former features grand special effects, while the latter excels in storytelling,' a movie-goer surnamed Cao told Xinhua. Based on the Chinese classic novel 'Journey to the West' written in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the film does not focus on the original protagonist – the mighty Monkey King. Instead, it spotlights the countless puny yaoguais (Chinese monsters) that appear in the novel. In the film, a group of four low-level yaoguais – a boar, a toad, an ape and a weasel – decide to embark on their journey to the west by dressing up as the team of Monk Tang and Monkey King. The journey sees the impostors save human villagers from evil yaoguais and be eventually remembered by other nameless, ordinary people as great heroes. "The film puts contemporary themes onto nameless minor yaoguais that the original work never developed, ultimately crafting a new story with modern relevance," said Chen Liaoyu, producer of 'Nobody.' On China's social media, many movie-goers are impressed by the animation's sarcastic portrayal of modern-day work culture, the Shanghai studio's iconic ink-and-wash-painting style and its humanistic focus on the minor characters rather than the big heroes. "The cinema is filled with laughter of kids and weeping sounds of adults," reads one comment on Douban. "As kids, we dreamed of becoming the Monkey King, only to realise after growing up that we're merely the ordinary yaoguais, the minor characters." In recent years, many Chinese cultural creations have won great popularity in China and beyond by retelling traditional stories from a modern perspective. 'Black Myth: Wukong,' the country's first 3A video game released in 2024, is based on the same story of the Monkey King but adopts a darker narrative. The game sold over 10 million copies in three days after its release and has become a global cultural phenomenon ever since. 'Ne Zha 2,' a 3D animation that rewrites the story of another Chinese mythological figure Ne Zha, has soared to the top-grossing animated feature in history, surpassing the likes of Pixar's 'Inside Out 2' and Disney's 2019 remake of 'The Lion King.' 'Ne Zha 2' director Yang Yu, also known as Jiaozi, believes that literary classics are the most valuable source of cultural IPs for animated films. Still, the classics need a modern touch for revitalization, said Yang. "Today's Chinese creators don't simply copy the past — they reinvent traditional stories through modern visual language and innovative storytelling while honouring the core values and aesthetic appeal of the original works," said Liang Junjian, associate professor at Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication.
Khaleej Times
05-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Ne Zha 2: Groundbreaking success shaping new era for Chinese film industry
Since hitting the big screen during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday on January 29, Chinese animated blockbuster 'Ne Zha 2' has shattered multiple box office records, becoming the first film to cross 1 billion dollars in a single market. As of February 12, its earnings had exceeded 9.3 billion yuan ($1.27 billion). This year marks the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema and the 130th anniversary of world cinema. The robust performance of Ne Zha 2 has boosted confidence within the global film industry, reaffirming the enduring vitality of film as an art form and providing valuable insights into Chinese filmmaking. Ne Zha 2 signals the arrival of a new chapter for the Chinese animation school. In the past century, Chinese animation, represented by the iconic works of Shanghai Animation Film Studio, captivated Chinese audiences and gained international recognition. However, the creation and production models in that era failed to keep up with the development of modern cinema and struggled to fulfill audience expectations, leading to a period of stagnation after its golden age. Today, with the deepening reforms in China's film industry, coupled with economic and technological advancements, a thriving cultural market, and a growing pool of talent, the Chinese animation industry has gained fresh momentum. A new generation of passionate filmmakers and innovative studios has come to prominence, warmly welcomed by the massive community of Chinese animation audiences. Ne Zha 2 highlights the profound depth and richness of Chinese cultural heritage. The film draws inspiration from China's Bronze Age, taking viewers back to ancient Chinese history — such as a pair of mystical 'Boundary guardian beasts' inspired by the golden masks excavated from the Sanxingdui Ruins, the magnificent Tianyuan Cauldron that finds inspiration in the bronze cauldrons of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (1600 B.C.-256 B.C.), and the intricate bronze mirror patterns found on the desk of Shiji Niangniang, or Lady Rocky. The story's core premise, where a Chaos Pearl birthed from primordial essences splits into two opposite components — the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Orb, echoes the Taoist allegory from the ancient Chinese classics Zhuangzi, in which the legendary faceless being Hundun perishes after being forcibly carved open. The climactic battle between the celestial realm and demon clans also continued the theme of self-discovery from 'Nezha Conquers the Dragon King', a classic Chinese animated fantasy film released in 1979. The film's intricate plotlines, fusion of beauty and grotesqueness in character design, and the balance between solemnity and humor all bear traces of the narrative styles of zaju, a unique dramatic genre of China's Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and popular fictions in China's Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). It revitalises China's long-standing aesthetic traditions, blending innovation with cultural heritage to captivate modern audiences. At the same time, Ne Zha 2 also reflects subtle influences from Western animation and Japanese anime. Since modern times, Western cultural elements have found their way into China and have been adapted in ways that contribute to the development of contemporary Chinese culture. This process of integration is, in itself, a fascinating cultural story of Chinese modernisation. The success of Ne Zha 2 also marks the advent of a new generation of filmmakers in China. The new generation of Chinese cultural and artistic workers boasts a unique strength — a deeper understanding of Chinese society and their personal lives, which they transform into fresh artistic expressions. Many young audiences have felt a powerful bond and emotional resonance with Ne Zha 2. This reinforces an important truth: no matter how fantastical, a mythological story must be grounded in reality and genuine emotion to truly connect with audiences. Besides, these new-generation filmmakers are actively exploring cross-disciplinary artistic practices, media integration, technological advancements, and cultural exchanges — paving the way for a more innovative future in filmmaking. In Ne Zha 2, the stunning battle between Ne Zha and marmots, and the breathtaking particle effects inspired by traditional Chinese ink painting, were made possible with the collaboration of multiple Chinese studios. Original Force, a leading Chinese company in digital content production, even delayed its own projects to prioritize the production of the film. The belief that 'unity is strength' is becoming a widespread consensus in China's film industry, with individual creators, studios, and companies all moving from isolation to collaboration, building ecosystems of shared resources and common development. Ne Zha 2 tells an incredible story, but its creation and success is a great story in itself. It is a testament to the creative team - individuals bursting with imagination and talent, and more broadly, to the collective force of China's animation, film, and technological sectors, which are driving a greater cultural advancement in China.
