A "Kung Fu Cat" from Changsha has become a hit in Africa.

In mid-April, the Hunan SMJM Media Co., Ltd. released its performance report. Its "SMJM" animation series have been broadcast in over 30 African countries, with more than 800 million views globally. Derivative products have been exported to more than 80 countries and regions, with the overseas revenue accounting for 80% of the company's total.

What makes this animated series so popular among African children? Liu Jianhong, member of the CPPCC Changsha Municipal Committee and the company's chairperson, revealed the secret: Chinese kung fu paves the way, with Chinese culture as the core, and stories as the bridge.

Chinese kung fu is inherently captivating, with each move speaking for itself. The company's kung fu animation series Warrior Shanmao and The Transformers Shanmao, feature the protagonist Shanmao—a vibrant and agile cat—and Jimi, who is clever and adorable. The series' original "Three Fists and Two Kicks" technique has filled a gap in animal-style boxing in Chinese original martial art animation. The storylines revolve around punishing evil and promoting good, friendship, and growth, incorporating one martial art move or life principle in each episode, allowing children to gain courage and justice while having fun.

This "kung fu cat" didn't have a smooth entrance into Africa. In 2020, Liu Jianhong tried to bring the animation series to Africa, but failed because local buyers couldn't afford the copyright. The turning point came when she sold Shanmao IP facemasks in Africa. She met Candy Ma, a Chinese businesswoman who had lived in Africa for 24 years. They agreed to collaborate—authorizing the production of branded clothing while using Candy Ma's distribution channels to promote the animation's release.

"Culture first, and industry follows up," Liu Jianhong said. In May 2024, "Shanmao Kung Fu" was officially launched in Nairobi, Kenya, and the "Shanmao Kung Fu International Club" was established. Local children from nearby schools came to the club to practice Chinese kung fu every week, and a second martial arts gym is in the works.

Today, the "Shanmao Jimi" animation series has been translated into multiple languages including English, French, Swahili, and Hausa, while branded clothing is being produced locally.

From "animation goes global" to "Chinese kung fu" taking root locally, this "kung fu cat" has not only paved a commercial path, but also opened a channel for mutual learning between cultures. Liu Jianhong has revealed that the company's plans to build an animation-themed park as an offline customer gateway, radiating from Kenya to more countries.

"With nearly 1.5 billion people, Africa holds enormous market potential," she said. "We aim to build a century-old brand, achieve 100 billion CNY in output value, and make SMJM renowned around the world."

Driven by platforms such as the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, Hunan-Africa cooperation has expanded from infrastructure and trade to the cultural and creative sectors. This Changsha-born "kung fu cat" shows the world the courage, thoughtfulness, and tangible outcomes of Chinese culture in going global, as well as the beauty that Chinese cultural products bring to the world, and the confidence of open and inclusive Chinese culture in promoting mutual learning among civilizations.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn.

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: Voice of Hunan