Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

Chinese animated film Nobody has become a dark horse sweeping the box office this summer. The film topped the daily box-office charts on Sunday with 106 million yuan ($14.76 million), grossing 559 million yuan nine days after release. The film has also secured a solid 8.6/10 rating on Chinese review platform Douban, even outperforming the animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 (8.5/10). 

What makes this film so appealing? 

The success of this film lies in the fact that while it is rooted in Chinese mythology, it tells a universal tale of survival, dignity, courage and life, striking a strong chord with audiences nationwide.

Nobody tells the story of a little pig monster who gathers three other nameless little demons to form a grassroots pilgrimage group. They pretend to be the famous monk Tang Sanzang and his three disciples from Journey to the West to break out of Langlang Mountain and embark on a hilarious "pilgrimage" that leads to self-growth.

The pig monster dreams of getting a stable job in the stifling hierarchy of the Cave of Kings. He thought that hard work would earn him recognition, but he accidentally offends the Monster King due to his lack of tact and is "fired."  

This makes the pig monster decide to leave Langlang Mountain, gather three other little demons to form a ragtag team of four and set out to "start their own business" - that is, to go on a pilgrimage to become Buddhas, saints and attain immortality.

Their path is paved with ridicule. Other demons sneer that not everyone is meant for the pilgrimage. The Monkey King, one of Tang Sanzang's disciples, knew the Buddha personally centuries earlier, while the others have become reborn gods. Only those with such official backgrounds are eligible for the pilgrimage.

Yet, the little pig monster and his companions are not discouraged and continue to slay demons and eliminate monsters.

Facing an adversary 100 times stronger than them, they still choose to fight because they want to live life on their own terms.

Just like in reality, not everyone can be the protagonist. But these little monsters dare to venture out with all their earthly qualities and give it a try. Their story seems to say that embarking on the pilgrimage matters far more than reaching the destination itself.

Everyone who has the courage to step out of their "Langlang Mountain" is already on a journey to obtain their own true scripture.

Many netizens say they can see themselves in these four unknown little demons. This is not just a movie, but more like a mirror.

No matter where you are from or what industry you struggle in, if you have ever felt powerless in a huge system, been ignored, had your dreams put on hold, or even just wanted to escape... then, the little monster on Langlang Mountain is you.

Just like the film's title Nobody, these little demons are so common that they don't even need names. Even by the end of the film, no one knows their names, and the film handles this with great restraint.

This film reminds us that beneath the fantastical surface, the greatest stories are always about the "nobodies" yearning to be somebody, somewhere else. And in that yearning, we all find a piece of ourselves.

Beyond its powerful narrative, Nobody is a breathtaking visual love letter to Chinese artistic heritage from the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, a major Chinese animation studio with a history of over 60 years. It masterfully blends the free-flowing, evocative spirit of ink-wash painting with the intricate, delicate details of brushwork art.

For example, washes of pale ink create the oppressive weight of Langlang Mountain's fog. Each strand of fur on the little demons is rendered with exquisite, almost palpable texture.

This isn't the hyper-real spectacle of mainstream 3D animation. It's a deeply rooted, uniquely Eastern aesthetic, that is familiar yet fresh, ancient yet vibrantly alive thanks to modern animation techniques.

This aesthetic expression of Oriental ink-wash style makes the audience feel a long-lost familiarity with the film's traditional cultural genes.

Eagle-eyed viewers will spot loving tributes, including subtle nods to the iconic 1986 live-action Journey to the West series, ancient architecture stemming from North China's Shanxi Province, and ethereal temple murals echoing the Mogao Caves of Dunhuang in Northwest China's Gansu Province.

In conclusion, the breakthrough of Nobody is not just a victory in box office, but more importantly, it proves that when traditional Chinese culture finds the right way of modern expression, Chinese animation can carve out its own unique path.

As French novelist Romain Rolland once said, "There is only one true heroism in the world: to see the world as it is, and to love it."

May this little pig demon inspire you to find yours.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn