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Before the premiere, Jia Wu, Member of the Work Leading Group of Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone and Chairman of Zoland Animation, delivered a speech on the dedication to the art of storytelling. She said that during the twenty-year history of Zoland Animation, it has always been dedicated to providing young audiences with wholesome, enriching content and has developed a collection of high-quality animated works, such as the Magic Eye series and Rubi & Yoyo series. This collaboration marks an innovative exploration of bringing together classic Chinese animation IPs. According to her, the film’s central theme is that true growth lies not in the ability to exert control, but in the willingness to take responsibility. She expressed her hope that longtime fans will find the familiar warmth they cherish, while a new generation of children will fall in love with this brand-new adventure.

The following “Paint Your Future Together” launch ceremony brought the event to a climax. The host invited Ms. Yang Liping, Vice President of the China Animation Association, Member of the Zhejiang Provincial Decision-Making Advisory Committee, and President of the Zhejiang Animation Industry Association, and Mr. Wu Jianrong, President of the China Chamber of Commerce for the Private Sector in the Cultural Industry, Vice President of the China Animation Association, Deputy Head of the Leading Group of the Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone, and Founder of Zhejiang Zhongnan Group, to take the stage. Holding scrolls, the two guests gradually unfurled them, revealing eight Chinese characters: “大开眼界” and “大有看头.” The first phrase, meaning “broadening horizons,” echoes the “eye” in Magic Eye, symbolising how the film opens up a new world of fantastical imagination for audiences. The second, meaning “something exciting to look forward to,” echoes the “head” in Datou, promising an entertaining and captivating cinematic experience. These two slogans served as a bridge between the two beloved IPs, bringing their magical crossover to life both on and off the screen. The audience joined in chanting the slogans, as three costumed characters bounded onto the stage to pose for a group photo with the guests.

After the premiere, audiences engaged in lively discussions. A kid said: “Datou’s thoughts after becoming an adult are so interesting, and they made the movie more vivid. I like how Magic Eye bid farewell to his friends the most.” According to another kid, the process of “transforming from a caterpillar into a butterfly” shown in the movie is just like the growth of kids. Datou’s seven-day experience not only taught her what growth is but also showed her the hardship of working life. Moreover, the plot where Magic sacrifices himself to save everyone deeply impressed her. A moviegoer born in the 1990s shared, “I grew up watching Magic Eye, and hearing the familiar rhyme ‘ice cream cone round, ice cream cone flat, ice cream cone transforms into Magic Eye’ instantly took me back to my childhood!” He added that the film was well worth watching for both older and younger children. Such feedback highlights the film’s appeal to audiences of all ages.

During the event, Wu Jia, Chairwoman of Zoland Animation, was interviewed by Hangzhou Television’s West Lake Pearl Channel, Hangzhou Television’s Youth and Sports Channel, and the Movie Channel of China Media Group (CMG).In the interviews, Wu shared that Magic Eye was the first “child” brought to life by Zoland Animation. Since its national television premiere on CCTV in 2005 as Zhejiang’s first locally produced TV animation assigned production number 001, the series has captured audiences across China and become a cherished childhood memory for countless viewers born in the 1990s and 2000s. She noted that this collaboration reflects a broader shift in China’s animation industry, from working independently to creating collaboratively. Looking ahead, Zoland Animation will continue to develop original content and breathe new life into classic IPs, while actively exploring business models that integrate digital cultural creativity with new scenarios such as cultural tourism, to achieve a “1+1>2” synergistic effect.

This movie is co-produced by Zoland Animation, the leading company of the Zhejiang Digital Cultural Cooperation Zone, National Cultural Export Base and CCTV Animation Group. It is supervised by the Film Satellite Channel Program Production Center of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and Shanxi Communication University and will be released nationwide on October 1. 

This National Day holiday, audiences are invited to head to cinemas and join Datou and Magic Eye on an exciting coming-of-age adventure that promises to broaden horizons and deliver plenty of thrills.