China’s Latest AI Is So Good It’s Spooked Hollywood

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt tussle in hand-to-hand combat on a rubble-strewn rooftop; Donald Trump takes on kung-fu fighters in a bamboo grove; Kanye West dances through a Chinese imperial palace while singing in Mandarin. 

Over the past week, a slew of cinematic videos of celebrities and characters in absurd situations have gone viral online, with one commonality – they were created using a new artificial intelligence tool from Chinese developer ByteDance, sparking anxiety over the fast-evolving capabilities of AI. 

The new model, named Seedance 2.0, is among the most advanced of its kind and has quickly drawn praise for its ease of use and the realistic nature of the videos it can generate in minutes. 

But soon after the release, media behemoths Paramount and Disney sent cease-and-desist letters to ByteDance, accusing the company most famous for developing the video-sharing app TikTok of infringing upon their intellectual property. Hollywood’s premier trade organization, the Motion Picture Association, and labor union SAG-AFTRA also condemned the company for unauthorized use of US-copyrighted works.

The cease-and-desist letter from Disney slammed Seedance 2.0 as “a pirated library of Disney’s copyrighted characters from Star Wars, Marvel, and other Disney franchises, as if Disney’s coveted intellectual property were free public domain clip art… ByteDance’s virtual smash-and-grab of Disney’s IP is willful, pervasive, and totally unacceptable“. 

The Beijing-based, global Internet technology company responded with a statement saying they respect intellectual property rights and will strengthen safeguards against the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likenesses on the said platform, though they did not specify how. 

Seedance 2.0 has quickly become the most controversial model in a wave of them released by Chinese technology companies this year, as the competition to dominate the AI industry heats up. 

China’s government has made advanced tech a key tenet of its national development strategy. In a televised Spring Festival celebration last week, the country’s latest humanoid robots stole the show by performing martial arts, spin kicks and back flips. [Refer my post "Kung Fu Humanoid Robots at Spring Festival Gala" published Wednesday]. 

Such improvements are often met with unease, particularly in the US, China’s chief technological and political rival, in a spiral of one-upmanship redolent of its 20th-century “Space Race” with the Soviet Union. 

Granted, there are genuine concerns, even fears over deepfakes and privacy. 

Rogier Creemers, an assistant professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands, who researches China’s domestic tech policy, opined that the rapid rate at which Chinese companies have released new iterations of AI technology this year, puts China on the back foot in assessing the potential negative impacts of each improvement. 

“The more capable these apps become, automatically, the more potentially harmful they become”, said Creemers. “It’s a little bit like a car. If you build a car that can drive faster, that gets you where you need to be a lot more quickly, but it also means that you can crash faster”.

Slasher Film Fest

Some of the quintessential characters like Winnie the Pooh and friends in the Hundred Acre Wood from AA Milne's original 1926 book, the black-and-white version of Mickey Mouse from the 1928 short film "Steamboat Willie" by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the original Popeye the Sailor Man from EC Segar's 1929 comic strip "Thimble Theatre" have turned into serial killers. And that's because they have all entered the public domain. Meaning, they are now free for anyone to share and adapt.

Therefore, Rhys Frake-Waterfield took the opportunity to produce "Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey" (2023), a violent new take on the beloved childhood classic. The film was panned by critics, with many considering it one of the worst films of all time, and received five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture. Despite this, the film was a box-office success, grossing $7.7 million worldwide on a budget of just $100,000. 

A sequel, "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2", was released on March 26, 2024. And two days later, Variety reported that the third instalment of IP-bludgeoning slasher Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey has been confirmed.

Even, Pooh's sidekick, Piglet is getting his own slasher movie this year, separate from the Winnie-the-Pooh horror universe. 

Not forgetting, "Bambi: The Reckoning" (2025), a horror film inspired by Felix Salten's 1923 novel, "Bambi, a Life in the Woods", which was the basis for the 1942 Disney classic, "Bambi".

And last year's "Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Death and Porridge", a horror slasher that is inspired by the classic fairy tale "Goldilocks and the Three Bears".

Then, we have horror reimaginings of Mickey Mouse: "The Mouse Trap" (2024), "Mouse of Horrors" (2025), "Mouseboat Massacre" (2025), and "Screamboat" (2025).

And three Popeye slasher movies out this year: "Popeye The Slayer Man", "Popeye's Revenge", and "Shiver Me Timbers". 

It looks like the film world is suffering from a seeming terminal creative bankruptcy.

Maybe so, but with slasher films, you really can't go wrong. They are  flourishing and very popular. And who doesn't enjoy being "on edge"? 

We're sure to have our fill of intense emotions in a safe environment and besides, it's an adrenaline-surging way to tap into our primal anxieties. Cool! 😬😬😬

Ne Zha 2: My POV

South China Morning Post's James Marsh describes "Ne Zha 2" as "a 144-minute barrage of mythological mayhem" and adding that it is "by turns exhilarating and exhausting". 

Yes, I watched Ne Zha 2 and I for one came away impressed! Very impressed!

Ne Zha 2 showcases the power of storytelling. It tells us that powerful stories can cross cultural boundaries when they tap into something so fundamentally human. 

More importantly, Westerners and Western-influenced audiences grow up with Disney's hero narrative mode of "the chosen one discovering their mission" – but this Chinese behemoth of a blockbuster avoids copying Hollywood's formulaic piffle. Instead, it turns it on its head and brings its own Chinese vision to the table. 

I have to tell you it's kinda weird but "kuih lapis" straightaway pops up in my head. I guess it's because this is a very layered movie and I don't think it's easy to get everything in on the first viewing. That's why a second (or even a third) time may be necessary to fully appreciate Ne Zha 2.

Truly, the best stories are the ones that reveal new layers each time you watch them. That is what makes this movie a real classic!

A point to note is that cinema goers don’t need to see the first movie in order to understand Ne Zha 2. The sequel provides a brief recap that goes over the main characters and necessary plot points from the original film (i.e. "Ne Zha"), setting up the audience with the essential information. 

The film's plot is excellent. Sure, it immediately sets up expectations that Ne Zha and Ao Bing will be on a journey to rebuild their bodies with the seven-colored lotus and keep the bodies alive. However, it’s far from a straight line from Point A to Point B in terms of narrative development. Nothing goes quite as expected, offering emotional twists and turns that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The story uses a great deal of foreshadowing without feeling so heavy-handed that it becomes predictable.

Note that Ne Zha’s relationship with Ao Bing is at the heart of both the first film and the sequel, as the two are literal soul mates made from two halves of the Chaos Pearl. Although they’re supposed to be opposites, Ne Zha and Ao Bing serve as foils for one another. Ne Zha is a human boy rejected because he’s born of the demon orb, while Ao Bing tries to prove himself because he’s a demon dragon born of the spirit pearl.

Ne Zha 2's animation is visually ambitious. Vibrantly stunning. Viscerally spectacular. A lavish cinematic landscape that keeps you glued to the screen as you watch it unfold and then spread out before you. I tell you, this is a must-see for anybody who appreciates the art of animation. And you have to see it on the big screen.   

Nothing captures it better than the film's high-energy action. It is absolutely insane. The scale and scope of the sweeping battle scenes are comparable to LOTR – but massively bigger. And epic in every sense of the word. The fluidity, the flow, the constant state of flux demands your assiduous attention. TBH, this is probably the best action animation I've ever seen.

That's not all. I didn't expect it to pack with so many emotions. They sweep over me in bursts and in waves. Despair. Grief. Hope. Love. Regret. Sadness. Schadenfreude. And more. The movie is an evocative statement on the human condition as it cleverly agitates, arouses and awakens every fiber of your being. And this is an animation movie, not a live-action.

Moreover, its sprawling story arc is loaded with abundant messaging. It centers around familyhood. It highlights friendship. It emphasizes loyalty. It informs you about staying true to yourself. And I could go on and on. 

Delve deeper and the story carries philosophical underpinnings of morality, fate, power, redemption and self-discovery. The most standout lesson I got is this quote from the movie: "If there's no path ahead, I'll carve one; if heaven disapproves, I'll overturn the cosmos". (Meaning, fate is the weak's excuse, the strong's motivation).

Go watch it – not because it's breaking records or it's getting ensnared by the Oscar buzz but because it's part of this amazing awesome moment where you and I discover the stories that move us, lead us to think and make us feel, don't have to come from where we expect them to.

And know this, Ne Zha 2 is proudly, unapologetically Chinese. 100%. 

I'll give this movie full marks. Suck it, Hollywood! I repeat, go watch it!

The Dealmaker is Rolling in Money

US President Donald Trump is a businessperson. He once boasted, “deals are my art form”. 

Well, the dealmaker is back in the White House, and corporations and their billionaire owners and executives are doling out millions. So far companies have paid about $80 million to the Trump family and the Trump presidential library that he hopes to build, according to the Wall Street Journal. That only represents settlements and business ventures, not the millions donated for his inauguration or crypto pursuits. And some deals were made before the president even stepped in the Oval Office, back when he stayed at Mar-a-Lago. 

Ty Cobb, who served as a White House lawyer in Trump’s first administration, told WSJ: “Everything he does is either to be vengeful or to accumulate wealth, power and adulation”. Trump knows “all these people want a piece of him”, Cobb said. 

Here's a sample of 4 cases about some of the money the Trump family has coming in since the president made his political comeback:

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sánchez had dinner with Trump and his wife Melania at Mar-a-Lago in December. He was the president-elect then. Two weeks later Amazon agreed to pay $40 million to license a documentary about Melania; it is the most Amazon has ever spent on a documentary, and a lot more than the $14 million Disney offered, according to WSJ. People familiar affirmed that the first lady’s cut is more than 70%. 

Four years ago, Trump sued Meta for locking his Facebook account after the January 06 attack on the Capitol. Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg visited Mar-a-Lago in November, and at that dinner, according to WSJ which cited a person familiar with the conversation, Trump told Zuckerberg the lawsuit needed to be settled if he wanted peace. Meta settled a couple months later and agreed to pay Trump $25 million: $22 million would go to a fund for his presidential library and the rest to legal fees.

Last week, Elon Musk’s X reportedly agreed to pay about $10 million to settle a lawsuit against the social media site and their prior chief executive after Trump sued what was then Twitter for de-platforming him after the January 06 riot, people familiar told WSJ. And it has been claimed that the money is expected to go directly to him rather than his presidential library, per sources familiar with the matter.

In December, Disney reached a settlement with Trump in his defamation case against ABC News and their anchor George Stephanopoulos after he said that Trump had been found civilly liable for rape – but really, Trump had been found liable for sexual abuse. The company agreed to donate $15 million to Trump’s future presidential foundation and museum and an additional $1 million for his legal fees.

Trump is rolling in money! Aiseh, I envy him!

Bizarre Backstory on Black Myth: Wukong

Undeniably, "Black Myth: Wukong" is a resounding success, having sold a remarkable 10 million copies in just 3 days. As well as an eye-watering three million concurrent players across all platforms. 

 

I don't know much about video games, nonetheless, I'm impressed by it. I daresay it has truly presented itself to be an incredible game.

As reviews poured in, it’s becoming clear that critics have generally enjoyed it. It garnered an 82 percent rating on OpenCritic, receiving praise for its sleek, cinematic visuals and exciting, high-octane combat scenes – but more importantly, it successfully translates the Chinese mythology of monkey god Sun Wukong into a compelling action RPG. 

Amidst it all, there is this bizarre backstory that alleged that Sweet Baby Inc., a Canadian narrative consultancy company had tried to blackmail Game Science to pay $7 million in "guidance fees", ostensibly to incorporate DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) elements into "Black Myth: Wukong". And when the developer refused to pay up, it is claimed games media coordinated a campaign to attack the Chinese studio. Because, you know, journalists are corrupt and all that.

As a response to this rejection of their service, Rebekah Valentine, an IGN journalist wrote a hit piece accusing Game Science of fostering a culture of sexism and misogyny. However the write-up has been said to contain maliciously mistranslated tweets that were meant to paint Game Science in a negative way. 

To make matters worse, ScreenRant and Gamespot additionally doubled down in their reviews of "Black Myth: Wukong", referencing IGN's angry article on Game Science.

The Sweet Baby Inc. story has gained traction amongst gamers – it's all over Youtube which is where I first found out about this – but whether it is true or not, I really cannot tell. I did, however, track down an X post by @Pirat_Nation published June 14, 2024 on the subject in question but I should state here that it hardly works as proof.

But neither do I want to discount it. After all, many Western companies (e.g. American Airlines, Cisco, Disney, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Novartis, Starbucks) have enthusiastically embraced the woke agenda and Sweet Baby Inc. may be one of them.

The above aside, I do know that there are many, many "diverse" characters in "Black Myth: Wukong" and amongst them:

I reckon this proves there is, indeed, DEI in "Black Myth: Wukong"! 

😛😛😛

Malaysia Falls to Oman

I must confess that I'm not really into Malaysian football. And that's sad.

 

That aside, Malaysia has a humongous mountain to climb after back-to-back 2-0 defeats to Oman. The second loss was on home ground, in Bukit Jalil, on Tuesday. 

 

In case you didn't know, this was the Group D 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifying match.

 

Twenty-six thousand fans showed up. Somebody remarked that English singer-songwriter, Ed Sheeran had 80,000 people last month at the same venue. Sad.

 

In January, a US judge sided with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in his fight with Disney, rejecting a lawsuit that had accused the latter of organizing a campaign of "government retaliation". 

 

Judge Allen Winsor said the actions that Disney opposed were legal and they lacked standing to sue the governor. Florida moved to tighten its oversight of Disney's amusement park last year. 

 

The change came after the company criticized a state law, the Parental Rights in Education Act – dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by critics – which banned discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

 

In his ruling, Judge Winsor accepted that the changes were clearly detrimental to Disney, which had enjoyed unusual power over the special tax district where their Walt Disney World park is located since 1967. 

 

Still, Disney moved to appeal the dismissal of their suit – but on Wednesday, the mass media and entertainment conglomerate agreed to put an end to all litigation pending in state court in Florida between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. They also agreed not to challenge the CFTOD’s determination that the prior agreements with the old Reedy Creek Improvement District were null and void. 

 

I guess, good sense prevailed.

US Judge Dismisses Disney's Lawsuit

A US judge has sided with Florida governor Ron DeSantis (left) in his fight with Disney, rejecting a lawsuit that had accused the Republican of organizing a campaign of "government retaliation". 

 

Judge Allen Winsor said the actions that Disney opposed were legal and it lacked standing to sue the governor. 

 

Florida moved to tighten its oversight of Disney's amusement park last year. The change came after the company criticized a state law that limited the teaching of sexuality in schools. 

 

In his ruling Judge Winsor said the changes were clearly detrimental to Disney, which had enjoyed unusual power over the special tax district where their Walt Disney World park is located since 1967. They gave DeSantis the power to appoint members to the district's governing board, removing that authority from landowners in the 25,000-acre district, of which Disney are by far the biggest. 

 

But the judge said state legislators had the right to make the changes and the company had failed to prove they faced any imminent harm from the governor's actions. 

 

In dismissing the suit, the judge wrote that courts cannot rule that a law is unconstitutional solely because lawmakers may have had an "illegitimate motivation" in enacting it. "Because that is what Disney seek here, their claim fails as a matter of law", he wrote. 

 

Disney said they would press forward with their case, which had argued that the moves threatened their business and violated their free speech rights. 

 

"This is an important case with serious implications for the rule of law, and it will not end here", the company said. "If left unchallenged, this would set a dangerous precedent and give license to states to weaponize their official powers to punish the expression of political viewpoints they disagree with".