The forest is gone, civilization thrives in its wake. What remains among the people however, are the remnants of nature and monsters who co-mingle with the masses. In here, a little forest cat grows and experiences life like he has never known.
In this 2019 Chinese animated film by MTJJ, Luo Xiaohei finds himself uprooted from his forest home. A simple cat monster, Xiaohei is entangled between the world of monsters and humans seen through his childlike visage. He resents humans as they’ve destroyed his home, living on the streets of an unnamed city until Fengxi, another monster like him, discovers and takes Xiaohei in. Over time Xiaohei discovers new perspectives and viewpoints through Fengxi and Executor Wuxian, complicating the simple eyes of a child with the intricate life of the modern world.
Through the establishment of a Spirit Guild, monsters and humans are able to coexist and currently live within a harmonious period. Some monsters still prefer to live away from humans and don’t care for their existence, others choose to connect with the evolving world: one such elf works as a flower girl making deliveries in the city.
The Legend of Hei is a display of Modern Fantasy at work, where spiritual powers and mythological creatures mix together with ever-evolving technology and civilization. This intertwined existence creates for great dynamics and very creative interactions between the two worlds. A fun small instance in the film involves Xiaohei and Wuxian calmly eating dinner right next to an active robbery at a jewelry store. With barely a reaction, the robber’s gun is bent into a handcuff that drags him straight to an arrest with nary a wasted movement.
A prominent focus in The Legend of Hei is how it incorporates much of Chinese mythology and philosophy. Powers that both humans and monsters display are seemingly native to the user. These are based on the Chinese Five Elements (五行 | Wuxing) alongside special powers that exist solely to the user. Through rigorous training, users are able to concentrate their focus and manipulate nature with ease.
Legends from Chinese mythology also come to roost within the world. One such figure is Nezha from The Investiture of the Gods (封神演義 | Fangshen Yanyi). A Buddhist protection deity described to be a symbol of rebellion and eternal youth, riding the world on flaming rings. In The Legend of Hei, Nezha is an Executor considered one of the best, handing crises with ease while forever being confused for a girl due to his eternal youth.
The Legend of Hei is a spectacular animated film for all ages. Rich, fluid 2D animation with beautiful handcrafted environments of the Chinese countryside and sprawling metropolis. I would also highly recommend watching it in its native Chinese dub with English subtitles, part for a new experience and part that I feel the Chinese dub better handles the voice work for its characters. The English dub regardless is also easy to find for those that prefer it. There is also a sequel film and animated web series for those interested of more in this series!
Movie frames taken from an official trailer3
Featured image and promotional images sourced from the Luo Xiaohei Wiki4
- Fercility Jiang. (2019). China’s Five Elements Philosophy — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. China Highlights. https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/china-five-elements-philosophy.htm
↩︎ - The History and Origin of Ne Zha, Protagonist of the Hit Animated Film “Ne Zha 2.” (2025). The World of Chinese. https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2025/02/ne-zha-from-myth-to-cultural-icon/
↩︎ - Shout! Studios. (2021, February 19). The Legend Of Hei (2021) – Official Trailer (HD). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps0O9l2CvOM
↩︎ - Blocked Page. (2026). Fandom.com. https://luoxiaohei.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Official_art
↩︎