The Legend of Hei

"The Legend of Hei" (罗小黑战记) is a 2019 Chinese animated film that serves as a prequel to the popular flash-animated web series "The Legend of Luo Xiaohei". The story begins when the forest home of a young cat spirit, Luo Xiaohei, is destroyed by human deforestation. Forced to wander the city, he is taken in by a group of fellow spirits led by the charismatic Fengxi, who harbors a deep resentment towards humans and dreams of reclaiming their land.

Xiaohei's newfound sense of belonging is shattered when he is forcibly separated from the group by a powerful human enforcer named Wuxian (Infinity). As Wuxian travels with the captive Xiaohei, a reluctant journey begins. Wuxian, part of a guild that maintains balance between the human and spirit worlds, starts to train Xiaohei, helping him understand and control his immense latent abilities. Through their travels and interactions, Xiaohei is exposed to both the good and bad of the human world, forcing him to question Fengxi's extremist views and forge his own understanding of right and wrong, and where he truly belongs.

The core meaning of "The Legend of Hei" revolves around the complex and often difficult idea of coexistence and balance. The director, MTJJ, avoids a simple black-and-white portrayal of the conflict between spirits and humans. Instead, the film explores the morally gray areas, suggesting that neither side is entirely right or wrong. It posits that true harmony doesn't come from segregation or domination, but from mutual understanding, empathy, and the willingness to see individuals beyond their group identity. The film carries a message of finding one's own path and making judgments based on experience rather than inherited prejudice, as seen through Hei's journey from a displaced victim to an individual who must choose his own moral stance.

While the film's main message is about coexistence, an alternative interpretation could focus on the inevitability of assimilation. Fengxi's radical plan fails, and the "successful" spirits are those who have integrated into human society, living in cities and abiding by the rules of the human-led Spirit Guild. From this perspective, the film could be read as a melancholic allegory for the loss of cultural identity, where the 'wild' and independent nature of the spirits must be tamed and absorbed into the dominant human culture to survive. Wuxian, a human, is the ultimate enforcer of this new world order, teaching Xiaohei how to fit in rather than how to reclaim his old world. The ending, with Xiaohei joining Wuxian, can be seen not just as a choice for balance, but as an acceptance of this assimilation.

"The Legend of Hei" is a significant film within the modern landscape of Chinese animation (donghua). Created as a prequel to a beloved indie web series, its feature film debut marked a successful transition from online cult favorite to mainstream cinematic hit. The movie was released in 2019, a landmark year for Chinese animation that also saw the release of the cultural phenomenon "Ne Zha." Together, these films signaled a new era of high-quality, commercially successful, and culturally specific animated features from China.

Critics and audiences praised the film for its sophisticated, morally ambiguous storytelling, which avoids simple good-versus-evil dichotomies, often drawing comparisons to the thematic depth of Studio Ghibli films like "Princess Mononoke". However, it also maintains a unique identity with its fluid action choreography, inspired by wuxia and shonen anime, and its blend of modern urban settings with traditional mythology. The film's success both domestically and in its limited international releases helped to elevate the global perception of donghua, showcasing its potential for compelling narratives and stunning visual artistry.

Audience reception for "The Legend of Hei" was overwhelmingly positive, both in its native China and among international animation fans. Viewers widely praised the film's stunningly fluid 2D animation, especially during the fast-paced action sequences, which were described as creative and dynamic. The emotional depth and the endearing design of the protagonist, Xiaohei, were also major points of acclaim, with many finding the character's journey touching and relatable.

The film's morally complex narrative was another frequently lauded aspect. Audiences appreciated that the story didn't present a simple 'humans vs. nature' conflict, instead offering sympathetic motivations for the antagonist and portraying a world of gray morality. The main points of minor criticism were occasional pacing issues, with some viewers finding the middle section of the journey a bit slow. Some also felt the plot was somewhat predictable, following familiar tropes of environmental fables. Overall, however, the verdict was that "The Legend of Hei" is a charming, beautifully animated, and surprisingly thoughtful film that stands as a high point for Chinese animation.