The Little Monsters' Summer

Synopsis

"Yao-Chinese Folktales" spin-off animated film: Four unknown little monsters embark on a journey to obtain the scriptures, setting a new box office record for two-dimensional animation in Chinese film history, with a Douban score of 8.5 and a cumulative box office of over 1.4 billion yuan.

Overview

The Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain (formerly known as The Little Monsters' Summer: Once Upon a Time There Was Langlang Mountain, English: The Little Monsters' Summer) is a 2025 Chinese animated comedy fantasy film directed and written by Yu Shui. It is a spin-off film based on the single episode The Little Monsters' Summer from the online animated series Yao-Chinese Folktales. The film was released in mainland China on August 2, 2025.

The film tells the adventure story of four unknown little monsters who embark on a journey to the West to obtain Buddhist scriptures. The classic main storyline of Tang Monk and his disciples remains, but this time the spotlight is given to the little monsters who were almost insignificant in the original work.

After its release, the film achieved both critical and commercial success, earning a high score of 8.5 on Douban and a cumulative box office of over 1.4 billion RMB, setting a new record for 2D animated films in Chinese film history.

Plot

Four unknown little monsters—Little Pig Monster, Gorilla Monster, and others—accidentally get involved in the story of the Journey to the West. Going to the West to obtain scriptures seems like a fantasy, but they unexpectedly embark on this journey.

During this adventurous journey, each of them undergoes cultivation and growth. The Gorilla Monster transforms from a "big crybaby" who dared not leave his cave to someone who bravely stands up for simple kindness; the Little Pig Monster also gradually grows from an ignorant little monster into a responsible character.

The film retains the classic story framework of Journey to the West while presenting a different world of the West through a fresh perspective and the narrative of ordinary characters. The anti-cliché plot is taken to new heights, allowing the audience to feel growth and warmth amidst laughter.

Cast

Production & Reception

Director Yu Shui previously directed Yao-Chinese Folktales: The Little Monsters' Summer, which gained widespread attention. Expanding the short film into a feature-length movie, he retained the original style while adding more exciting characters and a grander worldview.

The film adopts traditional Chinese 2D animation techniques in its art style—a commendable persistence in an era dominated by 3D animation. The visuals are fresh and simple, full of the charm of traditional Chinese ink painting.

In terms of box office, the film soared after its release: it broke several hundred million RMB in its first week, surpassed 574 million RMB by August 11, overtaking Big Fish & Begonia to become the top-grossing domestic 2D animated film in Chinese film history; it later surpassed Makoto Shinkai's Suzume and ultimately exceeded 1.4 billion RMB.

Cultural Impact

The Little Monsters of Langlang Mountain is another example of Chinese independent animation achieving commercial success. From the Yao-Chinese Folktales short film to a feature-length movie, it reinterprets the classic IP of Journey to the West from a unique perspective.

The film also performed well overseas. After its release in Vietnam, it topped the weekly box office chart, with a cumulative box office of approximately 1.26 million USD.

References

1. Douban Movie: https://movie.douban.com/subject/36809865/
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
4. CNR News: https://news.cnr.cn/native/gd/kx/20250914/t20250914_527361479.shtml