Monkey King

A thousand years after being imprisoned under a mountain by the great Buddha, the Monkey King is accidentally freed by a young orphan boy named Jiang Liuer. Now, a fearsome demon is hunting for the boy and his village. The Monkey King, initially reluctant to help, must overcome his own past demons and rediscover his heroic spirit to protect the innocent and defeat the evil.

Monkey King: Hero Is Back was a monumental success at the Chinese box office, becoming the highest-grossing animated film in China at the time of its release. Critically, it was praised for its stunning animation, ambitious storytelling, and faithful yet modern adaptation of the classic "Journey to the West" narrative. However, some critics noted pacing issues and a plot that occasionally felt derivative.

• Praised for its visually impressive animation and CGI.
• Applauded for its engaging storyline and modernization of a classic tale.
• Some found the pacing inconsistent and character development lacking in places.

Google audience: Audiences generally enjoyed the film's impressive visuals and its ability to bring a beloved Chinese legend to life with modern animation techniques. Many found the story compelling and the characters relatable, though a segment of viewers felt it could have been more tightly paced.

Won Best Animated Feature at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Golden Rooster Awards.

The film spent a total of seven years in production, with the animation team facing numerous challenges due to the complexity of the CGI and the ambition of the project.