Film Name: 闯堂兔2疯狂马戏团 / Brave Rabbit 2 Crazy Circus
Personally, I feel “Brave Rabbit 2 Crazy Circus” is a typical example of contemporary Chinese animated films: the visuals are passable, and the production quality is gradually improving. However, the characters and plot are riddled with glaring flaws and inconsistencies. In other words, the poster leaves a far better impression than the actual film. Yet at the same time, “Brave Rabbit 2 Crazy Circus” stands out as an atypical entry in domestic animation: its deliberately cultivated atmosphere feels decidedly adult-oriented, inadvertently turning it into a horror film.
I’ve seen parents commenting on issues like improper word usage, excessive volume, and children feeling frightened during the screening. Based on my own theater experience, these problems were indeed present. Two children demanded to leave before the film ended, and one little girl cried so hard she was carried out by her mother, wailing heartbreakingly. As an animation researcher, I felt a bit embarrassed.
If you actually go see this film in theaters, you might share some of my impressions. The opening leaves you utterly confused, with inexplicable fights on stage. The protagonist’s emotional arc and mission don’t become clear until much later. Characters like the Intruder Rabbit constantly shout and scream, making you dizzy and irritable, even wanting to leave. The villains are terrifying—I flinched when their faces were revealed, let alone the psychological scars they might leave on children.
Circus performances always radiate animated charm. Madagascar 3 also featured a circus act, but the biggest difference between the two lies in their underlying psychological implications: Watching Madagascar 3’s circus scene, you relax because it conveys the protagonists’ unity, overcoming obstacles, and personal growth. But when watching the circus act in “Brave Rabbit 2,” because you can’t quite grasp what the creator intends to convey, the masked performers constantly make you feel like a conspiracy is brewing, that something terrible is about to happen—yet it never quite does. This implication keeps you perpetually on edge.
“Brave Rabbit 2 Crazy Circus” has indeed been crafted into a horror film, though this may not have been the director’s original intent. Robots not aligned with the protagonists, masked men, and even magic—these elements all carry horror-tinged metaphors.
The film offers no warning about the magician’s terrifying appearance, so when he removes his mask, everyone jumps in fright. This visual shock may have been intentional, but it objectively creates a terrifying effect. Drawing from my own childhood trauma of sudden, grotesque revelations, such horror is detrimental to children’s mental well-being—guaranteeing nightmares for days. The film could have easily mitigated this by opening with a flashback of the magician performing street tricks, accompanied by voiceover emphasizing “I’m ugly, but I’m kind.” This foreshadowing would have prepared audiences for his terrifying appearance.
Please specify：Anime Phone Cases » Brave Rabbit 2 Crazy Circus 2015 Animation Film Review: I accidentally shot a horror movie.