Eight Immortals! Animation Earns 1.6 Billion RMB, Debuts in Hong Kong with Cantonese Dub
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago5 MIN
Summary
The Chinese animated film Eight Immortals! has achieved remarkable commercial success, amassing over 1.6 billion RMB in mainland box office revenue as of August 16 . The movie premiered in Hong Kong on August 20 with a specially produced Cantonese dub, marking its expansion into the Asian market . Director Mou Zhengyang shared insights into the production journey, emphasizing that the Eight Immortals are depicted not as born deities but as ordinary mortals who evolved to represent human voices across dynasties .
Key Points
- The film's protagonist 韩湘子 required three different voice actors throughout production due to the lengthy animation timeline, as the young boy cast initially underwent voice changes before completion .
- The production team abandoned AI-generated animation entirely, opting instead for manual craftsmanship on all key frames, camera work, and animation sequences, with the director himself performing roles .
- The movie assigns distinctive symbolic traits to each of the eight characters, ensuring viewers can differentiate and remember each immortal despite balancing screen time .
- Director Mou named 铁拐李 as his personal favorite, describing the beggar immortal as having the richest character arc and representing street-level authenticity .
- Total producer Ying Xujun selected 曹国舅 as her preferred character, praising how the noble-born immortal serves as the group's caretaker and handles workplace pressure diplomatically .
Why It Matters
The film's success demonstrates that stories rooted in traditional Chinese mythology can resonate powerfully with contemporary audiences while introducing fresh perspectives on familiar legends . Hong Kong viewers can now experience the animated epic in Cantonese, bridging cultural accessibility and reinforcing the territory's role as a vital hub for Asian cinema distribution .
The film's success demonstrates that stories rooted in traditional Chinese mythology can resonate powerfully with contemporary audiences while introducing fresh perspectives on familiar legends . Hong Kong viewers can now experience the animated epic in Cantonese, bridging cultural accessibility and reinforcing the territory's role as a vital hub for Asian cinema distribution .