Deep Sea

Shenxiu carries a quiet ache since her mother left, and the loss colors her days. A sudden storm pulls her into a luminous, dreamlike ocean realm where colors whirl and stories shimmer. There a playful guide called the Hyjinx appears, guiding her toward friendship and courage. She teams up with Nanhe, an inventive underwater chef whose gadgets light the way. Together they follow clues through coral arches and simmering currents in search of a place of refuge far from sorrow, the Eye of the Deep Sea. The quest promises solace, but the voyage also begins to reshape Shenxiu as she learns to face her grief with a wider view and a curious heart. Hope glimmers whenever new friends appear nearby.

Directed by Tian Xiaopeng, Deep Sea landed in 2023 as an original animated feature. The project centers on an immersive self contained world and builds its material from an original screenplay crafted specifically for the film. A bold new exploration.

The film grossed $136,090,000 worldwide, a solid performance against a budget of $28,700,000. Its global success helped reinforce the director's reputation for ambitious animation and storytelling, signaling strong cross cultural appeal for this dream filled adventure with audiences across continents.

Deep Sea's lush visuals and dreamlike underwater world drew attention from animation fans and critics alike. The film's bold color palette, inventive sea life designs, and fluid movement create a sense of wonder that lingers after the screen. Its friendship between Shenxiu and Nanhe emerged as a symbol of resilience.

Critics generally praised the film for its emotional honesty and striking aesthetics, noting how it balances grief with wonder. The story leans into themes of loss, hope, and the healing power of unlikely companionship within a vivid, dangerous world, where courage grows from tenderness and shapes the future of Shenxiu.