In our last episode The IP of Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, we explored China’s booming IP scene--from online micro-dramas and Labubu to cinematic heavy-hitters like The Wandering Earth and Nezha. Toput the rise of Chinese IPs in a global context, we are joined by Simon Abrams,a New York-based film critic and longtime observer of global cinema, whoseworks are featured in The New York Times, Roger Ebert.com, Vulture, Vanity Fair and more. Indeed, 2025 turned out to be a blockbuster year: Nezha2 topped the global box office, part of a wider trend where Chinese franchises continued to level up in ambition and scale. Meanwhile, on the global stage, the box office this year was defined not solely by legacy Hollywood franchises, but also by unexpected new hits like F1 and KPop Demon Hunters, which, for many, signals the coming of a new era. In this episode, we discuss: —What “cultural centrality” means in today’s film landscape —How Chinese franchises differ from Hollywood in building cinematic worlds —How foreign films--particularly Chinese cinema, Japanese anime and Korean films—are each carving out their own space in the U.S. market We'd also love to hear from you: what’s your favorite Chinese film, or one you think everyone should watch? Share it in the comments.

Long time no see—ok, “hear”! It’s been a while, but we’re back with another episode of China Vibes. This time, we’re delving into a topic that has lately been dominating China’s cultural conversation: IP--the stories, symbols and franchises shaping the country’s creative industry. From Harry Potter and Mission Impossible to The Wandering Earth and Nezha, and from online micro-dramas to Labubu, China’s creative universe is expanding fast--and the world is watching. What’s behind this wave of homegrown hits? How do Chinese IPs differ from--and at times mirror--the franchise-driven model perfected by Hollywood ? To unpack it all, this episode brings together Beijing Review reporters Elsbeth van Paridon, Peng Jiawei and Tao Xing, and Krislyn, a Houston native and film enthusiast. Inthis episode, we ask: —Why is Hollywood facing “narrative fatigue” among Chinese audiences? —What makes Chinese franchises resonate differently from Western blockbusters? —How are platforms likeDouyin (the Chinese TikTok) and Bilibili (China’s YouTube equivalent) reshaping who gets to create--and what gets made? —How sustainable is China’s new wave of creative IP? —And what explains the runaway appeal of micro-dramas and Labubu? So, stay with us as we decode the business of imagination--and find out what’s huo in Zhongguo right now!

We are back with our fourth episode of China Vibes! Today, we will be exploring avery prickly theme: Chinese parenting. What inspired us to delve into this topic was a Chinese comedy film that was released this summer, Successor, or Zhuawawa. The movie traces a boy’s coming-of-age journey as he juggles the gritty reality of poverty and the growing pains of adolescence. However, it turns out his reality was in fact a fake world constructed by his extremely wealthy parents to instill in him the drive and character necessary to takeover their business empire. Across Chinese social media, the film has sparked discussions about Chinese parenting and was labeled by many netizens as a"Chinese thriller" that essentially captures the "horrors"of traditional Chinese parenting. Today we have a very special guest with us: our dear colleague Garth, standing in for Elsbeth, who is traveling. In this episode, we will be breaking down parenting in China and how the concept is connected to the education system, economic development and many othersocial forces. Topics we cover include: -The superstition about e parenting appear from the perspectives of a child and amother? -The superstition about qiongyang, a mode of child-raising that deems hardships to be something that one must go throughto achieve success -Haidian moms, chicken children, Olympic math and the obsession with Tsinghua University and Peking University We also discuss: -The larger historical context of Chinese-style parenting -How parenting practices in China have evolved Enjoy,and happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

你是否曾因自己的身材而感到过自卑？是否曾陷入极限减肥、节食的困境？看完《热辣滚烫》，你是否与自己的身材焦虑和解了？健身是否已成为了一种身份和财富象征？今天我们就来聊聊，关于身材焦虑的故事。 嘉宾： Selina 吴 (小红书：Selina-中英双语心理圈)：应用心理学领域从业者 陶幸：媒体从业者 李文翰：媒体从业者 In the third topic of China Vibes, we will be delving into a piping hot topic: body image in China. Today, we will be looking at how the Chinese perceptions of body image has changed over the centuries, what impacts social media and celebrities have on the public psychology of appearance, whether fitness has become a status symbol and how stigmas and social prejudices relate to negative body image and eating disorders. Joining us today are three lovely guests: Selina Wu, a professional in Applied Psychology (Selina-中英双语心理圈 on Xiaohongshu, China’s lifestyle-focused social media platform), Tao Xing and Li Wenhan, both of whom are reporters with Beijing Review.