Low-Budget Chinese Animation 'Niu Lai' Becomes Viral Hit Despite Poor Quality
Released on August 5, the budget-friendly Chinese animated feature 'Niu Lai' ('The Cow Is Coming') has surprisingly thrived, raking in over 19 million yuan (around 2.5 million euros) after a meager start of just under 8,000 yuan in its first ten days. Its rise to fame on social media, largely attributed to its subpar quality, sparked a wave of memes. Meanwhile, Christopher Nolan's 'Odissea' achieved a remarkable 24 million euros during its opening weekend. Created without AI by the mother-son team of Sun Lifang and Xin Yumeng, 'Niu Lai' has led theaters to increase screenings and promote it with handmade posters. Nonetheless, the state-run Beijing News has criticized its success for potentially degrading cultural quality standards in China.
Key facts
- The film 'Niu Lai' ('The Cow Is Coming') is a low-budget Chinese animated film.
- It was released on August 5 and initially grossed under 8,000 yuan (about 1,000 euros) in 10 days.
- After going viral on social media, its box office exceeded 19 million yuan (about 2.5 million euros).
- The film was made by a two-person team: Sun Lifang and Xin Yumeng, a mother and son.
- The creators spent several years producing the film without using artificial intelligence.
- The film's poor quality is seen as original compared to AI-generated content.
- Some cinemas are adding screenings and hand-making posters due to demand.
- Beijing News criticized the film for potentially lowering cultural quality standards.
Entities
Artists
- Sun Lifang
- Xin Yumeng
Institutions
- Beijing News
Locations
- China
- Beijing