4. "I Am What I Am"

"I Am What I Am," directed by Sun Haipeng and produced by "Wolf Warrior 2" producer Zhang Miao, is for sure the best original animated feature of the year, which is a heartwarming and inspiring story about three rural underdog teenagers who try to reshape their destiny by learning China's traditional lion dance. It also acts as a witty tribute to vintage Hong Kong movie classics. Given that previously successful Chinese animations have predominantly been those adapted from traditional Chinese mythological icons like the Monkey King and Nezha, as well as animal cartoons for young children such as Boonie Bears, Zhang and Sun tried something different – a realistic story with true-to-life Chinese cultural elements and contemporary fashion while consciously avoiding traditional animation aesthetics influenced by Japanese and American animators. This opens a new world and points a new direction for Chinese animators.