Luo Xiao Hei zhan ji

This is a big effort in 2D animation for China, trying very hard to deliver a product that could be at the same time exciting and profound and that has the look of a blockbuster Japanese Anime, more specifically the Studio Ghibli ones. And the end result manages to work in some occasions and to look quite the part, but still suffers from some pacing problems and a lack of emotional focus at times. Also, the way the story develops ends up being quite conventional, but for the most part it's an enjoyable film.

This is a very peaceful movie. You will not know when it will end. The scenes are very beautiful. It is one of my favourite animations.

When Air China's entertainment system suggested this to me, I had no idea of what this was about - but I was immediately captivated, as it looks like a Ghibli movie, only not from Ghibli but from unknown Chinese animators. So I watched it in Chinese (even if I don't understand it) and I liked it so much that as soon as I got home I started to search for the web animation series from which the characters are taken.

The drawing style is deceptively simple, but the backgrounds and scenery in the first half are nothing short of wonderful. They recreate that magical atmosphere of a lost natural world that you may remember from Mononoke Hime or Totoro, with the movie being a bit of both - a peaceful and funny (lots of gags!) growth experience for a young, exhuberant demon-cat-kid, but also the tale of the clash between nature and mankind. (Since young and self-confident China is not old and weary Japan, though, the moral angle on this will end up slightly differently...) But what is really outstanding is the characterization of the protagonist, in terms of story and in terms of animation. It is very well done, and you will really root for Xiaohei as the character grows in several dimensions.

The final part is IMHO a bit less convincing and not so Ghibli-esque, as it focuses on solving the conflict that has been building up throughout the movie, and at times becomes more like a superhero fight sequence. However, in the overall this is a really good animation movie and if a Western edition comes out you should definitely not miss it; in the meantime, you can look for it online, and even the unsubtitled Chinese version will do (there is not a lot of dialogue and you can figure out the story quite easily without it).

I hadn't seen any trailers or heard anything about this movie before watching it. I simply had a lot of nieces who liked cats and this looked like a cute cat movie. The cat on the cover is just ridiculously cute, with its big cat eyes, how could I resist picking it?

For the first 7 minutes of the film it follows basically how I imagined the story to go. Hei is a cat that lives in the forest, until the evil monster known as "man" comes and destroys it. Hei must then find a new home in the city. Hijinks ensue as he and his smaller hairball companion ( I never did figure out what it was supposed to be) search for food and shelter. Now, if you want to watch the movie as ignorant as possible stop reading now and just be surprised by the craziness which follows. But, since part of a review is to give the reader some idea of what the movie is like, I will explain the premise.

As some bully kids decide to torment the cat, Hei transforms into a giant cat beast. Before Hei can get vengeance on the kids, they are instead picked off by phantom tree branches. These tree branches are being controlled by some kind of tree bending spirit. A number of spirits then join in and sweep Hei off to a hideout in the woods. Hei transforms into a cat boy hybrid. The hideout is then invaded by a metal bending "enforcer" who captures Hei and plans to take him to the realm of spirits...That all happens in about 6 minutes of screentime. I had no idea what kind of movie I was getting into

Once I adjusted to the tonal whiplash of the opening, I did find myself enjoying the film. Safe to say that I never knew what to expect going forward, so it always kept me on my toes. The movie is (mostly) very well animated and incredibly creative. I found myself very swept up in the drama of it. Certain action scenes towards the end had me at the edge of my seat.

On the negative side, the main enforcer, named "Infinity", is really dull. He speaks all his lines in the same monotone whisper, trying to convey the air of a tough stoic Samurai. Other main characters are also pretty bland and forgettable.

Not to mention, this film is crazy. Throughout the finale the rules of this world are put into question. It concludes in a confusing way, taking advantage of some obscure loophole in the lore that wasn't really explained. And there are times where the animators were just wanting to take a break, so they will linger on a still frame for nearly a minute.

But, if you find yourself in the mood for some craziness, this may be the film for you. It has some crazy over the top action scenes and keeps you guessing where it's going to go up to the very end. I didn't understand all of it, but it certainly left an impression on me.

I was absolutely amazed by the quality of this movie. The story is touching and really funny, and the battles are spectacular. Must watch! Especially for fans of the Avatar: the last Airbender series, who are looking for a similar experience.