Liu Jian’s Have a Nice Day (2017) is a striking animated neo-noir set in a small, rain-soaked town in Southern China.  

The film begins with Xiao Zhang, a lowly driver, taking a drastic step to solve a personal crisis. His fiancée’s plastic surgery has gone disastrously wrong, and in a desperate attempt to find the money to fix it, Xiao Zhang steals a bag containing 1 million yuan from his boss, a local gangster. What follows is a tense, darkly comedic tale of crime and chaos, as the stolen money becomes the catalyst for a series of entangled fates. 

Liu Jian, known for his unique approach to animation, blends stark realism with a minimalist aesthetic in Have a Nice Day. Upon the film’s release, the film garnered significant attention and acclaim on the international stage, solidifying its place as a landmark in Chinese animation. It premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and was nominated for the prestigious Golden Bear, a rare achievement for an animated feature. Critics praised Liu Jian’s audacious storytelling and the film’s unflinching portrayal of contemporary Chinese society. Its dark humor, sharp dialogue, and distinctive visual style were celebrated for pushing the boundaries of what animation could achieve, both as an art form and as a medium for social commentary. 

Despite its success abroad, the film faced challenges at home, including a temporary ban in China, which only added to its notoriety and mystique. This tension between international acclaim and domestic controversy underscores the film’s daring nature, making it a fitting inclusion in our “Outside the Lines” series, which highlights works that challenge the status quo and provoke thought through innovative storytelling.