Entertainment

When humans become demons: China’s viral AI hit

A 26-minute AI-generated animation about people branded as demons has become a viral hit in China. Behind its striking visuals is a creator using new technology to tell an old story about suffering, power and the people history leaves behind. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Miao Zong-Han tells us more.

Miao Zong-Han

03 Sep 2026

Faster than Bolt, but can China’s robots fold clothes?

Humanoid robots’ real test lies in the real world. By putting them through standardised sporting and real-world tasks, the World Humanoid Robot Games aim to expose their shortcomings, generate valuable data and lay the groundwork for industry standards and large-scale commercial deployment, says academic Zhang Tiankan.

Zhang Tiankan

27 Aug 2026

China’s AI idol craze: Fad or future?

China’s virtual idols are moving beyond entertainment, winning followers, landing brand deals and taking on roles once reserved for real people. As AI gives these digital characters voices, memories and agency, is China witnessing a passing craze — or the start of a new kind of celebrity? Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Christine Li Yage dives into the matter.

Christine Li Yage

27 Aug 2026

[Video] Could Niu Lai be China’s highest-return film ever?

Made by a mother and son with no outside investment, the low-budget Chinese animated film Niu Lai earned only US$1,000 in its first nine days before viral clips pushed its box office takings past US$4 million in just a few days. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming explains what drove its unexpected box office success.

Lu Lingming

21 Aug 2026

AI micro-dramas do not understand people. Are we starting not to either?

The gliches in AI micro-dramas may have been fixed, but not their indifference to human nature. As we consume ever more predictable stories, are we also losing our patience for complexity — and our respect for what’s real? Han Yong May, deputy editor-in-chief of SPH’s Chinese Media Group, ponders the question.

Han Yong May

20 Aug 2026

Why Beijing shelved its Taiwan war blockbuster

A lavish war epic about the Qing conquest of Taiwan was meant to be China’s next blockbuster. Instead, it vanished twice, raising questions about Beijing’s evolving Taiwan narrative and political messaging. Lianhe Zaobao associate editor Han Yong Hong explains.

Han Yong Hong

30 Jul 2026

[Video] China made it to the World Cup, just not on the pitch

China’s men’s football team is once again absent from the World Cup, but China is visible almost everywhere else around the tournament. ThinkChina’s Lu Lingming looks at how China made it into the World Cup economy, even as its team remains off the pitch.

Lu Lingming

17 Jul 2026

Human stories without humans: Has AI degraded China’s micro-dramas?

As AI slashes the cost and time needed to produce micro-dramas, China’s hottest entertainment trend is raising difficult questions about creativity, labour and who really profits. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lim Zhan Ting speaks to industry insiders.

Lim Zhan Ting

10 Jul 2026

Cheap, fast and everywhere: Why China leads AI adoption

The tech race is not just about building the smartest AI — it is about who uses it first. China’s mature ecosystems and practical demands are driving hyper-rapid adoption, beating the US and other markets, says academic Huijuan Peng.

Huijuan Peng

09 Jul 2026

[Big read] Too ‘cool’ to resist: China’s soft power captivates Taiwan’s youth

From TikTok trends to Chinese apps and pop culture, Beijing’s soft power is gaining traction among young Taiwanese, raising fresh questions over identity, influence and cross-strait competition. Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Lai Oi Lai and journalist Zhang Guanghui find out more.

Lai Oi Lai, Zhang Guanghui

01 Jul 2026

The truth behind Dear You, from a first-generation Nanyang migrant

The movie Dear You has struck a chord with audiences, but how closely does it reflect reality? Rongzi, a first-generation Nanyang migrant, weighs in with memories of the world the film seeks to recreate.

Rongzi

25 Jun 2026

[Big read] Inside China’s arts exam shadow market

Behind China’s arts entrance exams lies a costly world of influence and opaque deals, where talent alone rarely secures a place. Lianhe Zaobao journalist Qi Lu speaks to those who have lived through such experiences, and to academics who explain how the system works.

Qi Lu

23 Jun 2026