Ling Long (灵笼) announces first animated feature film, co-produced by Bilibili (哔哩哔哩), Yihua Kaitian (艺画开天), Xinli Film (新丽电影) and China Literature (阅文集团)
Film announced at China Literature IP gala
The popular Chinese original sci‑fi animation Ling Long (灵笼) has officially announced its first animated feature film, it has been reported that the project is a four‑way co‑production between China Literature (阅文集团), Bilibili (哔哩哔哩), Yihua Kaitian (艺画开天) and Xinli Film (新丽电影). The announcement was made during a China Literature IP event, where Ling Long also received the “Most Anticipated Animated Film of the Year” award. A concept poster released alongside the news confirms the listed production partners and triggered a broad reaction from fans and industry observers.
A hit series moving to the big screen
Ling Long, created by Wuhan‑based Yihua Kaitian (艺画开天), is set after a cataclysmic geological disaster and follows survivors living on a floating lighthouse who face monstrous predators and fraught human politics. Since its 2019 exclusive premiere on Bilibili — a major Chinese streaming and youth culture platform — the franchise has been praised for cinematic visuals, philosophical storytelling and themes about collective destiny. According to platform figures cited in reports, the series has amassed over 1.15 billion views on Bilibili, more than 11.55 million followers and high ratings across domestic and international platforms.
Industry and geopolitical context
The move to a theatrical feature is a natural next step in a broader push to commercialize and export Chinese IP. Ling Long has been supported by multiple state cultural initiatives and has collected numerous domestic awards such as the Golden Dragon (金龙奖) and Golden Dolphin (金海豚奖); reportedly its second season was also selected for the main competition at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival — a first for Chinese sci‑fi animation. What does this mean beyond ticket sales? For Beijing and Chinese studios, successful originals like Ling Long serve both as cultural soft power and as proof points for a homegrown entertainment ecosystem that can compete on international stages.
What to watch next
Can Ling Long translate its streaming acclaim into box‑office success and broader international distribution? Observers will be watching how the producers leverage Bilibili’s fanbase and China Literature’s IP capabilities, and whether the film will secure overseas distribution amid complex geopolitics around media flows and cultural export. It has been reported that more concrete release details will follow as production advances.