{
  "id": 3812102,
  "title": "From $71 to $9 million: how a mocked Chinese animation became an unlikely box-office hit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/from-71-to-9-million-how-a-mocked-chinese-animation-became-an",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-27T19:47:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/from-71-to-9-million-how-a-mocked-chinese-animation-became-an-unlikely-box-office-hit-290343"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "IMDb's Niu Lai (牛来), a crudely animated 86-minute film directed by a self-taught mother-son duo from China, has transformed from obscurity to a viral sensation. After its release on August 5, 2026, the film has earned over 45 million Chinese yuan (approximately A$9.3 million) at the box office. Initially mocked for its low-budget animation, stiff movements, strange voice acting, and bizarre plot, the film has found success and a passionate audience. The story follows a timid young calf named Niu Lai who dreams of encountering a spirit snake, a leopard protector, and a pack of wolves. Niu Lai's director, 34-year-old first-time animator Xin Yumeng (信雨萌), and his 60-year-old mother, Sun Lifang (孙丽芳), created the film over five years on a home computer. Despite receiving little promotion, the film gained attention due to curious viewers and the bizarre nature of its content. Memes and stock-market humor spread rapidly, turning Niu Lai into an online phenomenon. The film's popularity reflects a cultural trend of enjoying \"so bad it's good\" movies, which date back to the 1960s and 1970s.",
  "summary": "The crudely animated film Niu Lai seemed destined for oblivion when it was released earlier this month. Now the whole world knows about it.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}