Film Name: 向着明亮那方 / To the Bright Side
I first learned about this Chinese animated film from foreign media outlets. Unlike those highly hyped CG blockbusters or the annual sequels from established franchises, this visually stunning, emotionally sincere animated film seems inherently shy and understated—or perhaps vulnerable and silent. Yet when you sit down and truly listen to this quietness, you might just hear the most deafening cry.
This is undoubtedly a truly unique animated film. It eschews heavy mythological elements, intense action sequences, and elaborate technical flourishes. Instead, it offers a picture-book style aesthetic, a clever narrative structure, and an unadorned, heartfelt emotional core. Seven stories, seven directors, seven styles—all weaving one narrative: the priceless value of family and kinship.
Once upon a time, compiling short films with a shared theme into a feature became a popular creative approach in China’s film market. My People, My Country employed this method—diverse plots, perspectives, and cinematography—to express a unified patriotic theme. The aesthetic essence of this creation can be summed up in four words: “collective empathy.” Yet in animation, such films have been virtually nonexistent—until now. To the Bright Side is the groundbreaking pioneer.
Beyond structural differences, its subject matter also feels distinctly alternative. It focuses on reality. The film captures China’s bustling streets, rural villages, and ordinary households, where people speak in diverse dialects, making every story feel like it unfolds right beside you. It centers on everyday people. The camera no longer follows mythical heroes saving the world, but instead captures the old man selling drinks, the middle-aged couple running a restaurant, children affected by disasters, and the squabbling siblings found in any family with two children. Though you, me, and everyone else remain outside the frame, we feel as if we’re part of the story. Rather than being a rare, down-to-earth anomaly in animation, this is a return to the life animation should always focus on.
The film depicts numerous childhoods, yet these are not fairy tales but thought-provoking adult narratives. Children may primarily notice the beautiful visuals and the various aspects of childhood life. Adults, however, will undoubtedly grasp deeper layers: the hardships of life, the responsibilities of family, the selfless love and hopes for children, and the irreparable regret for departed elders.
The little rabbit’s questions, the boy’s essay, the blue wheelchair left by Grandma, the sweet and comforting black sesame paste, the little locomotive that can pull itself forward… The film feels like a letter home to every ordinary person—neutral yet not cold, hard-working yet filled with happiness. Ultimately, all threads converge upon individual families and scenes of familial bonds. Though not wealthy, each household possesses a bright corner to aspire to and pursue—a place warmed by home and sustained by the ties of kinship.
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