LayarHijau – Legendary actor and filmmaker Stephen Chow has once again captured public attention. In recent years, he has become increasingly active on social media, using the platform to interact directly with fans. His latest film, Women’s Soccer, is reported to have completed filming and is rumored to be targeting a Chinese New Year release window. However, even before that film reaches theaters, Stephen Chow has already revealed his next major move.
On January 30, Stephen Chow posted a video on social media that immediately drew widespread attention. The post was widely interpreted as an official signal that he is entering the animation industry for the first time, with a new project titled Legend of the Galaxy Heroes.
In the video, Stephen Chow revealed three sheets of white paper featuring drawings he created himself. The sketches depict animated versions of three iconic characters from his most famous films: Stephen Chow Sau-Ching from The God of Cookery (食神), the legendary comedic character Ru Hua (如花), and the Landlady (包租婆) from Kung Fu Hustle (功夫). All three characters were rendered in a vivid, three-dimensional style reminiscent of professional animation character designs, with instantly recognizable features for longtime fans of his work.
The character Ru Hua, in particular, does not originate from a single film. Instead, Ru Hua is a recurring comedic figure who appeared across several Stephen Chow films in the 1990s, including Flirting Scholar, Hail the Judge, and From Beijing with Love. Known for her deliberately exaggerated appearance contrasted with being described as “beautiful” within the story, Ru Hua has become a symbol of Stephen Chow’s signature absurdist humor. In this new animation project, Stephen Chow appears to be reinterpreting Ru Hua in a fresh form, including a “student-style” version, as part of a broader creative exploration of the character.
Alongside the video, Stephen Chow also issued an open call to creative talents from Chinese-speaking regions to participate in the new animation project. In his statement, he said he is looking for individuals with exceptional creativity to help build an entirely new story together. Participants are invited to submit ideas, take part in voting processes, and even directly influence the development and fate of the characters.
Stephen Chow’s decision is widely seen as a strategic move, as China’s animation industry is currently experiencing rapid growth. Last year was often described as a “miracle year” for Chinese animation. The animated blockbuster Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea set a historic record with box office revenue reaching 15.4 billion yuan, while Nobody, a mid-budget animated film from the Langlang Mountain universe, grossed over 1.7 billion yuan and ranked among the top six highest-grossing films of the year.
By entering the animation arena at a time when public interest in domestic animation is at its peak, Stephen Chow is widely regarded as having chosen his timing well. Moreover, his trademark comedic style—long a defining feature of his films—is believed to translate effectively into the animated medium.
Beyond marking a new chapter in his career, Legend of the Galaxy Heroes is also seen as an effort by Stephen Chow to revive his classic Hong Kong film IPs in a new format. By inviting fans and creators from across regions to participate directly, the project is expected to become both a bold creative experiment and a highly anticipated addition to the evolving landscape of Chinese animation.
