Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea (Ne Zha 2) has been captivating audiences with its stunning visuals, emotional depth, and top-tier production quality since it was released in China on Jan 29, Chinese New Year.

Jinan-based Shandong New Sight Digital Technology Co contributed to the creation of several characters and images, including Shiji Niangniang, a stone demon who won the hearts of audiences with her surprisingly endearing sense of cuteness.

In traditional mythology, the character of Shiji Niangniang is typically portrayed as a cunning, vicious, and scheming villain. However, the creative team reimagined the figure with more depth, portraying her as chubby and adorable, breaking away from the typical villain archetype.

Zhang Luzhe, general manager of Shandong New Sight Digital Technology Co, said that the team moved away from the typical "young, thin, and fair" aesthetic, giving her a healthier, more powerful look to reflect a new style of Chinese animation.

Shandong New Sight Digital Technology Co, founded in 1994, is a high-tech enterprise with 32 years of experience in cultural creativity and IT integration. It also lent its efforts to the blockbuster film Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child (Ne Zha 1), which was released in 2019.

The 3D design of Shiji Niangniang. [Photo/Haibao News]

A member of the team works on the design of Shiji Niangniang. [Photo/Haibao News]