‘Ne Zha’ Success Isn’t Enough: China Needs More Hit Film Franchises, Industry Leaders Say

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The blockbuster animated films Ne Zha and its sequel received numerous accolades, along with the success of the widely-loved animated Boonie Bears series in both film and television during the 15th Beijing International Film Festival. However, Chinese film industry figures emphasized that this is not a time for complacency or self-congratulation. Instead, they urged creators to concentrate on producing more homegrown content with wide appeal that can transcend individual films.

The “Film Investment and Financing Forum: Revitalizing Film Investment and Finance Confidence” showcased a distinguished panel of speakers from China’s film industry, such as Jiang Defu, CEO of Bona Film Group and producer; Liang Jing, Chinese actress known for films like “The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel” and “Love at First Sight,” who is also a producer of “The Eight Hundred,” “The Sacrifice,” “Black Dog,” and chair of Beijing Seventh Art Pictures; Rao Shuguang, film theorist and president of the China Film Critics Society; Shang Linlin, executive president of Fantawild Holdings and general manager of Fantawild Animation, who is also the chief producer of the popular “Boonie Bears” film and TV franchise; Jerry Ye, film producer known for “The Eight Hundred” and “Detective Chinatown,” as well as being a senior vice president at iQiyi; and Yu Baimei, director, screenwriter, and producer of films like “Ping Pong of China” and “My People, My Homeland.” The event was moderated by TV host Li Jie.

Currently, there’s been a lot of buzz surrounding the movie “Ne Zha“. It appears that discussing anything about films without mentioning “Ne Zha” is nearly impossible, as Rao Shuguang, a film theorist and president of the China Film Critics Society, pointed out. He explained that this one film alone accounts for approximately 60% of the Chinese box office, indicating a significant shift in the Chinese film industry towards a “winner-takes-all” model. However, Shuguang warned that it’s crucial to focus on various types of films because, as he put it, “A single flower does not make spring.” Instead, we need a variety of films, or “a hundred flowers,” to truly flourish.

Yu Baimei, who is known for directing, writing scripts, and producing films such as “Ping Pong of China”, “My People, My Homeland”, “Looking Up”, “Devil and Angel”, and “The Breakup Guru”, urged the creative and executive sectors to seek out more enjoyable cinematic experiences. He contends that current film posters might give viewers a sense of visiting a psychological clinic instead, due to the fact that many films today revolve around various mental health issues and seem to lack entertainment value, causing an overabundance of negative emotions.

To achieve a greater impact on audiences, it’s crucial to expand our range of genres and establish more self-produced, lasting intellectual properties (IPs). If China isn’t restricted to only ‘Ne Zha’ and ‘Boonie Bears’ series up to 8, but instead has eight to nine robust IPs capable of generating three, four or five films each, I am confident the audience experience would be significantly transformed. Self-produced franchises have the power to revitalize and rejuvenate our cinemas.

As a gamer, I’ve come to realize: “The game developers out there are putting in some serious work on this project. We all have a sense of the urgent situation at hand. Let’s step up our game and create even more captivating and immersive content to stay ahead of the fast-paced evolution in today’s gaming world.

Moreover, Yu expressed optimism, commenting: “I’m looking forward to the approaching summer season, as it boasts some truly impressive blockbusters.

Simultaneously, Shang Linlin, the top executive at Fantawild Holdings and manager of Fantawild Animation, as well as the chief producer of the hit Boonie Bears series, offered insights on the success of this franchise. “The true worth of a film isn’t its size; it’s the impact it makes,” she stated. This is why the franchise has branched out into numerous areas beyond the screen, such as theme parks and marketing collaborations. “There are over 20 main categories, encompassing everything from food and drinks to office supplies and toys, with thousands of products in total,” she clarified. “This extensive product range offers a solid foundation for the future revenue of the IP and the continued growth of the franchise.

One significant component of Fantawild’s franchise operations is its network of theme parks. Shang pointed out that there are over 40 such parks spread across the country, each representing various brands, many of which celebrate Chinese culture. Notably, we have expanded our offerings to include several Boonie Bears-themed parks and hotels, capitalizing on the popularity of this brand.

As a passionate enthusiast, I’m excited about potential advancements like virtual reality. I eagerly look forward to exploring ways we can maximize the worth of our intellectual property even more.

At the event, we also had the pleasure of hearing from Jiang Defu, the CEO of Bona Film Group and a film producer; Liang Jing, a Chinese actress known for her roles in “The Chef, the Actor, the Scoundrel” and “Love at First Sight,” who is also a film producer of “The Eight Hundred,” “The Sacrifice,” and “Black Dog,” and serves as chair of Beijing Seventh Art Pictures; and Jerry Ye, a film producer of “The Eight Hundred” and “Detective Chinatown,” as well as the senior vp at iQiyi. The role of moderator was handled by Li Jie, a TV host and personality.

The Beijing film festival runs through Saturday.

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2025-04-25 07:54