In the vast sea of Chinese social media, a new wave of creativity has emerged, centered around the animated film The Summer of Mermaid (美人鱼的夏天). This independently-produced movie, crafted by the husband-and-wife team of Shen Xiaoyang and Xiao Xiaoyue, was released in November, and since then has sparked a deluge of humorous responses on Chinese social media platforms including Xiaohongshu. Though the film represents an accomplishment for independent animation in China, much of the content it has generated online is in response to perceived shortcomings in its production quality.

Shen and Xiaoyue spent an astounding seven years bringing their vision to life, showcasing their dedication to the craft. Their work is speaks to the burgeoning animation industry in Xiamen. The coastal city’s supportive policies and the annual Xiamen International Animation Festival have fueled the growth of animation studios there, contributing to an industry that generated over 10 billion RMB in annual revenue.

The film tells the story of a rebellious mermaid who finds herself stranded on a small island, caught between the allure of the human world and the call of the deep sea. As she navigates her newfound surroundings, she encounters an elderly mermaid who has long lived among humans and a young boy who captures her heart.

The film features a unique blend of 2D and 3D animation techniques, which showcase the beauty of Fujian province and Minnan (southern Fujianese) culture. The film features elements of local culture including Minnan red brick houses, traditional music, and Fujianese cuisine. In fact, Xiao reportedly spent two years researching and visiting the landscapes of southern Fujian province in preparation for the film. Beyond the film’s setting and animation, voice actors Lin Mingxuan and Li Xiang have also garnered attention for their roles.

However, despite the considerable effort that the filmmakers put into The Summer of Mermaid, what’s making the rounds on Xiaohongshu these days is parodies of scenes from the film, rather than praise for its plot or landscapes. Even after seven years of production, many viewers find the quality of the film to be lacking. Critiques have been aimed at the unnatural behavior of its characters, as well as the film’s stilted dialogue.

In one post fitness influencer上啊！大奶罐 uses leeks to emulate the mermaid’s hairstyle while recreating a scene from the film in which she scares herself by accident. Another Xiaohongshu user, 唔苜唔苜, humorously captioned their attempt at re-enacting a scene where the male protagonist interacts with the female protagonist in her mermaid form: “I laughed for two hours before I was willing to send it out. The most confounding episode.”

The aforementioned scene where the protagonist gives herself a fright has even spawned a “scare yourself” challenge. Popular influencers such as American expat Bao Bao Xiong (who spawned the “city bù city a” catchphrase over the summer) and celebrities including Shen Xiaoting from K-pop girl group Kep1er have also gotten in on the fun.

Social media users are also been playing around with the film’s dialogue, dubbing scenes with sometimes hilarious results. For example, Xiaohongshu content creator 小淘气鬼当家 made her version of the “scare yourself” scene with a Northeastern Mandarin accent. Other users shared their praise in comments, with 心之所项小姐 (好运版) describing the dubbed audio as very “suitable” and reacting with laughter.

Regrettably, some responses to the film have crossed the line from fun parody into cyberbullying, and Shen and Xiao have disappeared from social media. While it’s sad to see independent creatives treated this way, it’s also difficult not to get swept up by the infectious fun of some of the more well-meaning parodies.

Banner image via Xiamen Desertship Animation.