Monkey King: Hero Is Back

[GeneChing]

'Monkey King: Hero Is Back' Beats 'Kung Fu Panda 2' to Become Best-selling Chinese Animation
2015-07-25 20:11:02 CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Li Bin


A poster of "Monkey King: Hero Is Back". [Photo: mtime.com]

Chinese animation "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" has grossed 618 million yuan, becoming the best-selling animation ever to hit Chinese theatres.

Its earnings have now surpassed the 2011 film "Kung Fu Panda 2," which grossed 617 million yuan.

It also marks the first time in a decade a Chinese animation has topped the revenue charts.

Japanese film "Stand by Me Doraemon" sits in second place with 531 million yuan in revenues.

"Big Hero 6" sits 3rd with 503 million yuan earned for an animation.

Meanwhile, "Monster Hunt" has officially taken in over 1.1 billion yuan in just nine days after opening.

The film is only 140 million yuan short of becoming the highest-grossing movie in China ever.

That title is currently held by "Lost in Thailand."

It's widely expected "Monster Hunt" will surpass "Lost in Thailand" by tomorrow.

I thought we had a thread on this already but couldn't find it with a cursory search. There are a lot of Monkey King threads here and I wasn't sure which one this might be. I'll merge if anyone finds the proper one.

[GeneChing]

I'm eager to see Monster Hunt too. That looks like a great Fant-Asia.

Monster Hunt and Monkey King set China records



By Kevin Ma
Tue, 28 July 2015, 09:30 AM (HKT)
Box Office News

Monster Hunt 捉妖記 and Monkey King: Hero is Back 西遊記之大聖歸來 continued to smash box office records in China over the weekend.

Earning RMB323 million (US$52 million) from approximately 8.72 million admissions between Friday and Sunday, Monster Hunt (pictured) officially broke Lost in Thailand 人再囧途之泰囧 (2012)'s record on Saturday to become the highest grossing local film of all time. The fantasy adventure maintained a screening share of approximately 29.4% over the weekend.

After 11 days in cinemas, the Edko Films Ltd 安樂影片有限公司 release has already made RMB1.37 billion (US$221 million).

Jianbing Man 煎餅俠 remained in second place, earning RMB169 million (US$27.3 million) from approximately 5.13 million admissions between Friday and Sunday. The 2-D superhero spoof has made RMB865 million (US$139 million), making it co-producer Wanda Media Co Ltd 萬達影視傳媒有限公司's highest grossing film.

The comedy is distributed by Wuzhou Film Distribution Co Ltd 五洲电影发行有限公司, a subsidiary of Wanda.

In third place, Monkey King: Hero is Back also set a new record of its own on Saturday, surpassing Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)'s RMB612 million (US$98.6 million) gross to become China's highest grossing animated film. An original spin-off of the Journey to the West mythology, it has made RMB671 million (US$108 million) after 17 days.

The 3-D release had a screening share of approximately 12.1% over the weekend.

Only You 命中注定, Huayi Brothers Media Corporation 華誼兄弟傳媒股份有限公司' and Columbia Pictures' remake of the 1994 American romantic comedy, opened in fourth place. With a screening share of approximately 15.2% over the weekend, the ZHANG Hao 張皓 film – starring TANG Wei 湯唯 and LIAO Fan 廖凡 – earned RMB47.5 million (US$7.64 million) from approximately 1.49 million admissions over three days.

The opening is far below Tang Wei's previous romantic comedy Finding Mr. Right 北京遇上西雅圖 (2013), which earned RMB520 million (US$83.7 million) during its theatrical run. The sequel to that film is currently in production.

Seer Movie 5: Rise of Thunder 赛尔号５　雷神崛起 opened in fifth place, earning RMB40.8 million (US$6.57 million) from approximately 1.2 million admissions.

Last year, Seer the Movie 4 賽爾號大電影4　聖魔之戰 opened with RMB39.6 million (US$6.38 million) over four days. It earned RMB62.31 million (US$10.0 million) during its theatrical run.

With 3.85% of all screenings, Danny PANG 彭發's The Strange House 通靈　六世古宅 earned RMB10.1 million (US$1.62 million) over three days.

Opening on Tuesday, The Imitation Game made RMB18.8 million (US$3.02 million) over its first six days in cinemas. The espionage drama accounted for only 1.93% of all screenings over the weekend.

While July is considered the unofficial blackout period of foreign films that were imported on a revenue-sharing basis, foreign films imported via flat-fee deals are allowed to be released.

John WOO 吳宇森's The Crossing: Part 2 太平輪　彼岸, period drama Lady of the Dynasty 王朝的女人　楊貴妃, Ringo LAM 林嶺東's Wild City 暴走迷城 and Hong Kong romantic comedy Paris Holiday 巴黎假期 open this weekend.

[GeneChing]

This has got to be one of the worst trailers ever. That narration...those titles...and the fact that despite being the 'English' version, the dialog isn't translated.

[GeneChing]

....including the U.S. I wonder?

Animation Monkey King to land in 60 countries
English.news.cn 2015-11-10 20:41:22


A screen capture from Monkey King: Hero is Back. (File photo)

BEIJING, Nov.10 (Xinhuanet) -- China's animated milestone Monkey King: Hero is Back by Tian Xiaopeng will land in more than 60 countries overseas, setting a new record for foreign sales of a Chinese made 3D animation.

Hero is Back has grossed 956 million yuan (150.47 million U.S. dollars) in China to become the highest grossing animation in Chinese film history. However, the enthusiasm for it didn't end in China - it's gone beyond.


Monkey King: The Hero is on the covers of SCREEN and Animation Magazine in early November. (Source: China.org.cn)

Monkey King: Hero is Back sold distribution rights for 4 million U.S. dollars in more than 60 countries around the world and was put on the covers of SCREEN and Animation Magazine in early November.

Flame Node Entertainment will distribute film overseas. Feng Yi, founder and president of Flame Node, said they have arranged several exhibition screenings for foreign distributors, who were impressed and amazed by the animation's qualities.

Feng said Hero is Back is a new voice in the market dominated by Hollywood animation. To get closer to foreign audiences, they also hired an American team to dub the voice for the characters.


A screen capture from Monkey King: Hero is Back. (File photo)

Ned Lott, the producer and voice director for Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro (2015 Disney version) cast the English voices for Hero is Back, while Cory Edwards, the script writer for Hoodwinked! and Escape from Planet Earth, helped to rewrite some dialogue lines to make the film more understandable for Western audiences.

The overseas release dates of the film have not been announced yet. According to sales statistics, the Asian countries' distributors have reacted warmly to it since the original Chinese classic Journey to the West is still very popular in Oriental cultures.

(Source: China.org.cn)

[GeneChing]

There's an embedded news story in English if you follow the link.

'Monkey king' wins big at Sichuan TV Festival
CCTV.com
11-06-2015 05:16 BJT

The legend of the 'Monkey King' is a household favourite with the Chinese people. Now, an animated version has won big at the Sichuan TV festival, which awards excellence in both TV and movies.

The Golden Panda Award went to 'Monkey King-Hero is Back', recognizing an animated feature that took nine times its budget at the box office this year.



The Golden Panda Award went to 'Monkey King-Hero is Back', recognizing an animated feature that took nine times its budget at the box office this year.

"The film has many advantages. First, it is very nicely made; second, it is on a good theme; third, it's up to international standards in the whole process from creation to production to promotion. It might spearhead a development of Chinese-made animations in the next year or so," said Zeng Weijing, Judge, Sichuan TV Festival.

A chief aim of the Sichuan TV Festival is to champion student film-making. In the category of "Films or TV Features Made by College Students", the festival received almost three thousand submissions from more than 40 countries.

Top prize in this category went to 'Borrowed Body Parts', a film about a German offering his organs for transplant in Turkey, and a commentary on deep social issues.

"The winning film in the College Students category is from Germany. Over the years, works by foreign students have maintained a high standard. What's inspiring is students at home here in China have made huge progress in terms of vision," said Mao Weining, Judge, Sichuan TV Festival.

"In the past, Chinese students were shooting films set on campus. But now, the scope has largely broadened. "

The Special Jury award went to a Chinese student for "Rosy Life", which contrasts the dreams of underprivileged children with the harsh realities they face.

Over the past two decades, the Sichuan TV Festival has grown in influence both domestically and abroad. In all, awards went to 28 works from 14 countries.

[GeneChing]

My kid saw this trailer with me and commented 'A kid? He wasn't a kid.'

We'll still watch it though.

[GeneChing]

DirecTV Cinema to Debut Jackie Chan Animation Before Theaters
The Jackie Chan animated movie Monkey King: Hero is Back debuts on DirecTV Cinema before a theatrical release in the U.S.
5/09/2016 05:22:00 PM Eastern
By Chris Tribbey

DirecTV and Viva Pictures will release the Jackie Chan animated movie Monkey King: Hero is Back on DirecTV Cinema, before the film gets a wide theatrical release in the U.S., the companies announced.
The film is based on Wu Cheng’en’s novel Journey to the West, and features a mythological character voiced by Chan (Rush Hour, Kung Fu Panda). The film will debut on DirecTV Cinema May 26, with Viva putting it in theaters in late July.
“Monkey King: Hero is Back is a universal film with amazing 3D animation that families will truly enjoy,” said Victor Elizalde, president of Viva Pictures. “The addition of the well-known and beloved Jackie Chan as the Monkey King for American audiences takes the film to another level and we are pleased to be working with DirecTV on another exclusive premiere.”
First released in China last year, the film is directed and co-written by Tian Xiao Peng, and also features the voices of James Hong (Blade Runner, Mulan) and Nika Futterman (Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Boxtrolls). The film has pulled in $177 million at the box office to date.
“’Monkey King: Hero is Back’ is filled with masterful animation and lively characters,” said Hanny Patel, VP of video marketing for AT&T. “We are thrilled to work with Viva Pictures again and deliver Tian Xiao Peng’s film one month before it hits theatres.”
Viva and DirecTV partnered up last year to release the horror film Exeter on DirecTV Cinema before freeing it up for a theatrical release.

Having Jackie voice Monkey for the English version was a brilliant stroke.

[GeneChing]

Chinese Hit ‘Monkey King: Hero is Back’ Gets U.S. Distribution
By Amid Amidi | 07/12/2016 3:27 pm | 6

The Chinese CG-animated feature Monkey King: Hero is Back, which holds the current record for the highest-grossing domestic animation in China, is being distributed in the United States through a partnership between AT&T’s DirecTV and Viva Pictures.

The English version stars Jackie Chan in the lead role of the Monkey King (Chan also plays the monkey in Dreamworks’ Kung Fu Panda franchise). James Hong (Mr. Ping in Kung Fu Panda) also provides a voice in the English dub. Here is the trailer:



The English version of Monkey King is currently available to rent on DirecTV. A theatrical release of the PG-rated film, in both 2D and digital 3D, is scheduled for July 29, but it is not easy to find information about where the film will be screened. Considering that Monkey King is Viva’s most high-profile animation pick-up to date—other titles in their library include clunkers like Caroline and the Magic Potion, The Aviators, and Foodfight!—they’ve done little to spread word about it.

The breakout success of the film has energized China’s feature animation industry and led to a frenzy of studios and producers jumping into animation production. Englight Media, which released last weekend’s major hit, Big Fish & Begonia, has already enlisted Tian Xiao Peng to direct two new features: Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven and Deep Sea.

Never saw anything about the allegedly theatrical release. Here's a new thread for the new one: Monkey King: Havoc in Heaven

[GeneChing]

Caught this on Hulu+ over the weekend. So many Monkey flix.

This one bugged me because it takes the Monkey story and goes a completely different place with it. It's twisted - the kid rescues Monkey from Five Finger Mountain, but he's already a fan, and carries a Monkey doll. The kid character is really annoying, but he's supposed to be so. Monkey and Pigsy are in it. Monkey is okay, but Pigsy is a flatulent fool. The villain is mediocre, and his minions are fanged giant toads that remind me of some leftovers from a Barbie movie. I didn't mind the kid so much as the weak villains. They should have drawn more from the source story, because it's full of great villains. My biggest issue was that the CGI animation fails. I get what they were trying to go for artistically, and it almost works - it would've worked maybe a decade ago, but now CGI animation is so advanced, this comes off looking amateur. There's a stylized opening sequence that retells Monkey's duel with Nezha and banishment that's good.

The saving grace is actually Jackie. I really liked his voice work in this. Jackie gives Monkey a lot of heart.