New Chinese Animation Puts Modern Spin on Traditional Stories

“Yao-Chinese Folktales” is an eight-part series inspired by various traditional Chinese literature titles.

An animated series featuring monster-like characters, or yao in Chinese, has won praise online for adopting traditional Chinese culture and aesthetics in its animation and storytelling in a way that has resonated with many.

“Yao-Chinese Folktales” is an eight-part series inspired by various traditional Chinese literature titles and showcases a range of artistic styles such as paper cutting, watercolor painting, and computer graphics. The first episode is based on the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West,” with characters preparing to capture a Tang dynasty Buddhist monk.

Its plot, which shows one of the characters being punished after their leader was dissatisfied with their work, has resonated with a wide audience, reminding them of dilemmas and suffering at the workplace.

“The little monster at the bottom of the ladder really reflects my sad life as a dagong ren,” one viewer commented on Bilibili, using online slang to refer to physically or technically skilled workers. Continue to read the full article here

This article originally appeared on Sixth Tone.