In a market still dominated by flashy CGI spectacles, a humble ink-wash animation has quietly revolutionized China’s box office landscape. Nobody, the latest breakout hit from Shanghai Animation Film Studio, has surpassed 500 million RMB (69 million USD) since its August 2nd release, becoming China’s highest-grossing domestic 2D animated release.

The film’s unexpected triumph speaks volumes about the evolving tastes of Chinese audiences who have embraced its distinctly indigenous artistry. Nobody follows four underdog monsters—a pig, toad, weasel, and ape—who masquerade as characters from Journey to the West in a quest for immortality before finding themselves protecting villagers from malevolent forces.
What sets Nobody apart isn’t just its visual style, which blends traditional ink-wash techniques with modern animation technology, but its emotional resonance. The film’s central character, a pig demon carrying a gourd kettle given by his mother, has struck a particularly powerful chord with viewers, earning an impressive 8.6/10 score on Douban.

This success didn’t materialize overnight. Nobody is the first feature adapted from Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s eight-episode anthology “Yao-Chinese Folktales,” which went viral in 2023. The pig demon’s yearning—”I want to leave Langlang Mountain”—became an unexpected cultural touchpoint for millions of Chinese workers navigating their own professional ambitions and existential questions.
The film’s stunning visuals combine traditional brushwork with chromatic lighting and spatial effects, positioning Nobody as a distinctly Chinese alternative to dominant Japanese and American animation styles. By August 11, the film had already earned more than 615 million RMB (85.6 million USD), with projections suggesting it could exceed 1.77 billion RMB. This has surpassed China’s majorly successful Ne Zha 2 animated film, bringing things full circle as Shanghai Animation Film Studio is responsible for producing the OG Nezha Conquers the Dragon King back in 1979 (which we’ve conveniently added in full—with English subtitles) below.
As China’s animation industry—now worth over 300 billion yuan ($41.3 billion)—continues its rapid growth, Nobody represents a significant milestone: proof that culturally specific storytelling with universal themes can achieve both commercial success and artistic recognition. If you missed our article on the other major Chinese box hit and epic war drama Dead to Rights, check that out here.
Cover image via Global Times.