Drama pushes Chinese sci-fi frontiers
Animated series Ling Cage, a postapocalyptic odyssey of survival, betrayal and redemption, gains global ground, Xu Fan reports.
When Dong Xiangbo was in primary school, his father once caught him skipping homework to watch Dinosaur Corps Koseidon, a popular Japanese sci-fi series. The punishment was swift: a spanking that left the boy in tears. Yet, even as his father scolded him, Dong kept sneaking glances at the TV, where a superhero battled aliens.
Decades later, that childhood moment feels almost prophetic. Today, the 38-year-old director is at the helm of Ling Cage, one of China's most ambitious sci-fi animated series.
The latest, its second season, marks a return to the futuristic world after a six-year hiatus. Since its release, it has racked up over 320 million online views and earned a stellar 8.9 out of 10 on the popular review site Douban.
Set in a postapocalyptic world, Ling Cage envisions humanity on the brink of extinction after a catastrophic geological disaster. The survivors take refuge in a floating fortress governed by draconian laws: emotional bonds are banned, reproduction is strictly controlled to ensure genetic superiority, and the weak are exiled.
