Meme magic: how a crude Chinese animation reshapes country’s viewing habits

A crudely made animated film has emerged as an unexpected cultural flashpoint in China, sparking debate over how memes and online virality are reshaping audience perceptions of what is worth watching.
Niu Lai, or The Arrival of the Ox, premiered in China on August 5, following a young calf’s dreamlike journey to becoming a warrior.
Its rudimentary visuals quickly invited ridicule: snakes resemble spring-loaded strips, grass is depicted as yellow blocks labelled “grass,” and leaves appear as...