Ne Zha-Transformers collaboration set to air as US-China frictions ease

A highly anticipated animated crossover between a Chinese mythological hero and American pop culture icons will debut early next month, marking a significant collaborative release as bilateral tensions continue to ease.

Many see My Ne Zha and Transformers – a 52-episode co-production between China’s CCTV Animation and US toy giant Hasbro – as the latest sign of stabilising relations amid soft-power diplomacy.

The series features the popular boy deity joining forces with the Autobots in a rare fusion of an American commercial franchise and Chinese folklore. State broadcaster CCTV confirmed on Friday that the programme would premiere on its Children’s Channel on December 6, with episodes airing nightly at 8.30pm.

The launch follows a series of diplomatic gestures that have helped to cool tensions, suggesting that cultural collaboration was persisting despite geopolitical complexities.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump shared smiles and handshakes during a meeting in Busan, South Korea, on October 30, during which both countries agreed to roll back tariffs and suspend certain trade restrictions.

China agreed to pause its expanded export controls on rare earth minerals, while the United States delayed the implementation of an “affiliate rule” which would have significantly increased restrictions on certain Chinese companies.

Amid China’s economic growth and technological progress, national pride and traditional culture have seen a resurgence, leading to productions like the Tang dynasty-inspired blockbuster 30,000 Miles from Changan and hit video game Black Myth: Wukong, based on a classic Chinese novel.

  

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