Little Monster of Langlang Mountain

Synopsis

Domestic 2D animated film, adapted from Yu Shui's work The Summer of Little Monsters. Four grassroots little monsters absurdly team up to imitate the Journey to the West pilgrimage, embarking on an adventure filled with laughter and emotion.

Overview

The Little Demon of Langlang Mountain is a domestic 2D animated comedy adventure film directed by Yu Shui, adapted from his original work Summer of the Little Demon. The film was released in mainland China on August 2, 2025, with a runtime of 118 minutes and a Douban rating of 8.6.

Thanks to its excellent word-of-mouth, the film staged a remarkable comeback after its release, with cumulative box office revenue exceeding 807.9 million yuan, surpassing Makoto Shinkai's Suzume and becoming the highest-grossing 2D animated film in Chinese film history. It also achieved impressive results in overseas markets such as Vietnam, where it topped the weekly box office with cumulative revenue of approximately $1.26 million in 10 days.

Plot

The film tells the story of four grassroots little demons who absurdly team up to imitate the journey to the West to obtain scriptures. Pig Demon, Toad Demon, Weasel Demon, and Gorilla Monster—these low-level demons who don't even have names in Journey to the West—embark on an adventure full of laughter and emotion due to their respective coincidences.

The film reinterprets the story of Journey to the West from the perspective of the little demons, vividly portraying the fate of small characters within the grand narrative. Each little demon has their own dreams and pursuits. They live obscurely on the remote Langlang Mountain until a chance encounter changes their destiny.

Voice Cast

Box Office Performance

The Little Demon of Langlang Mountain was released on August 2, 2025. After several days of word-of-mouth fermentation, it claimed the daily box office crown. According to Maoyan Professional Edition data, total box office exceeded 100 million yuan within two days of release. By August 15, cumulative box office surpassed 807.9 million yuan, making it the highest-grossing 2D animated film in Chinese film history.

The film also performed well in overseas markets. In Vietnam, it topped the box office in its first week of release, with cumulative revenue of approximately $1.26 million in 10 days, demonstrating the overseas appeal of domestic animation.

Production Background

Director Yu Shui previously gained widespread attention online with the short film Summer of the Little Demon. The Little Demon of Langlang Mountain is a feature-length extension of that short film, expanding the original few-minute story into a complete 118-minute movie.

As a pure 2D hand-drawn animated film, The Little Demon of Langlang Mountain swam against the current in a market dominated by 3D animation, winning audience recognition with its unique Chinese aesthetic style and down-to-earth storytelling. The film's visual style blends traditional ink painting with modern cartoon elements, creating a distinctive visual language.

Cultural Impact

The film was selected as one of the Top 10 Films of 2025, becoming another phenomenal domestic animated work after Ne Zha: The Devil's Birth. By reflecting the fate of ordinary people in the tide of the times through the perspective of low-level demons, the film sparked widespread social resonance.

Some critics believe that the film's success demonstrates the contemporary value of Chinese aesthetics and proves the immense potential of original domestic animation. Not only did the film achieve success in the domestic market, but it also set a new benchmark for the overseas export of domestic animation.

References

1. Douban: https://m.douban.com/movie/subject/36438475/
2. Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/浪浪山小妖怪/65635889
3. Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/浪浪山小妖怪