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China’s Web Novels Power Its New Entertainment Surge Beyond ‘Ne Zha 2’
In the shadow of 'Ne Zha 2's' blockbuster success, webtoons are reshaping China's entertainment landscape.
While attention focuses on how homegrown titles increasingly outpace Western films through cultural pride and technological advancement, another formidable force drives this shift: web novels and their extraordinarily successful authors. As Heng Sao Tian Ya, author of “Library of Heaven’s Path,” explains: “Its core is the Chinese concept of ‘respecting teachers and the principles of education,’ but through an imaginary world and systematic settings, it is transformed into the theme of ‘knowledge is power’ that can be understood by global readers.” As traditional publishing models face disruption worldwide, this digital-first approach to entertainment franchises may well represent not just China’s present but global media’s future.
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