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Chinese animated feature "Nobody" has sparked positive word-of-mouth by blending traditional painting styles with modern storytelling in an adaptation of the classic "Journey to the West," particularly appealing to young urban audiences.
The cast and crew pose for a photo at the "Nobody" premiere in Beijing, July 30, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Animation Film Studio]
"Nobody" is the first feature film adapted from Shanghai Animation Film Studio's eight-episode "Yao-Chinese Folktales" anthology series, which gained widespread popularity in 2023. The film features characters from the same-titled 20-minute "Nobody" episode within the series.
The film, directed by Yu Shui and produced by Wang Jun, Li Zao and Chen Liaoyu, is based on China's classic tale "Journey to the West" but focuses on minor demon characters who are defeated by the monk Tang's traveling companions in the original story.
The story follows four marginalized demons — a pig, toad, weasel and ape — on a hilarious yet poignant quest westward to secure Buddhist scriptures before Monk Tang and his disciples, including the legendary Monkey King Sun Wukong, can complete their mission.
The film appeals to young urban audiences by depicting workplace challenges, including difficult supervisors, family pressures and conflicts between stable employment and business ventures. The characters face obstacles and misunderstandings while representing the experiences of ordinary urban employees and their efforts to maintain personal values and goals.
The production involved more than 600 artists who created over 1,800 shots and 2,000 scene designs. The animation combines traditional Chinese ink painting techniques with modern lighting and spatial effects. A committee of veteran artists and experts from Shanghai Animation Film Studio oversaw quality control. The studio said the film builds on China's traditional animation approach while incorporating contemporary visual techniques.
Executive producer and art director Chen shared at the premiere: "Building upon ink wash and line art foundations, the film incorporates rich chromatic lighting and tangible spatiality to create a believable narrative world." He said the production balances traditional brushwork with realistic textures and combines industrial production methods with individual artistic styles.
Chen described the character design approach as emphasizing "beauty in imperfection" to create accessible characters. The sound design incorporates natural sounds, including waves, insect chirps, bird calls and wind. The score combines traditional Chinese instruments such as the xun and bamboo flute with Western orchestration, playfully underscoring the little demons' journey.
A poster for "Nobody." [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Animation Film Studio]
"Nobody" opens Aug. 2 in theaters nationwide.
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