The authors and creators of donghua
The creator of the little black catBorn in 1984 in Zhejiang, Zhang Ping, known as MTJJ and Mutou ("wood"), is the creator of Luo Xiaohei, the little black cat spirit who became one of Chinese animation's mascots.
Career
MTJJ created Luo Xiaohei, a little black cat able to transform, and in 2011 launched a 2D animated web series, The Legend of Luo Xiaohei (罗小黑战记), released episode by episode online.
He founded the HMCH studio (寒木春华, Hanmu Chunhua) to produce the series and its spin-offs. The web series became a cult hit, and Luo Xiaohei a true mascot, spun off into comics and merchandise.
In 2019, the first feature film, The Legend of Hei, was a critical success in China and then in Japan. A second film followed in 2025.
Life and behind the scenes
He is described as gentle, hard-working and shy, with a strong taste for parody. Fans simply call him "Mutou", wood, or "the guy who can make animation". He stays very discreet about his private life and lets his cat do the talking.
Style and themes
MTJJ champions warm, readable hand-drawn 2D, inspired by Japanese animation and Chinese classics. His stories are about the place of spirits in a human-dominated world, with great tenderness and wildly inventive fights.
Their works on Donghua Fan
The donghua adapted from MTJJ's novels, with their guides, characters and watch orders.
Trivia
- His pen name MTJJ comes from "Mutou", wood, his nickname.
- The Luo Xiaohei web series began in 2011, long before the wave of big donghua.
- The 2019 film was dubbed into Japanese and very well received in Japan.
Donghua Fan's take
MTJJ created the most endearing character in Chinese animation. His patience and love of drawing show in every frame of Luo Xiaohei.
— Spidermas, for Donghua Fan