A low-budget Chinese animated film that was initially ignored in theaters has become a box-office surprise after its deliberately rough and “ugly” visuals went viral, turning a project made with limited resources into a film that eventually earned more than $4 million, or over ₱230 million.
“Niu Lai,” made by director Xin Yumeng and his mother, Sun Lifang, reportedly earned only 342 yuan, or about ₱2,700, on its opening day before social media discussions about its unconventional animation style sparked curiosity and drew more viewers to cinemas.
The film’s unusual visuals became the center of online conversations, with viewers sharing reactions and clips that helped fuel its sudden popularity.
The movie, made on a budget of just $2,000, follows a newborn calf, his mother and a leopard cub. In China’s daily box-office rankings, it placed just behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Reviewers described the dialogue as slow, the action sequences as clunky and the animation as heavily pixelated. The story centers on a frail, exhausted newborn calf struggling to stand, weaving themes of friendship, courage and loss.
