Overview
A cat demon embarks on a transformative journey in a world where magic and humanity intertwine.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- whimsical
- warm
- adventurous
- family movie night
- anime discovery
What critics said
Audiences and critics broadly regard the film as a charming, visually inventive Chinese animated fantasy with emotional warmth and strong worldbuilding.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Hei begins wandering after his forest home is destroyed, making habitat loss the catalyst for the central conflict.
The premise explicitly presents goblins living peacefully alongside humans in a bustling shared world.
Hei must decide whether his true attribution lies with goblin companions or his earnest human master.
The cat demon Hei is a shapeshifter, and magic-driven action is central to the film's fantasy presentation.
Films like The Legend of Hei, and why
Spirited Away
animated fantasy adventure centered on a young nonhuman protagonist, environmental displacement, and competing human and supernatural communities
The Cat Returns
warmly comic animated fantasy combining shapeshifting animal characters, action, mentorship, and questions of coexistence
Ne Zha
Chinese animated fantasy adventure with expressive character animation, magical worldbuilding, and themes of identity and belonging
Wolfwalkers
action-oriented animated fantasy about a displaced supernatural being navigating human society and moral allegiance
Movie Details
- Director
- MTJJ
- Release Date
- 2019-08-27
- Runtime
- 102 min
- Rating
- 8.4 / 10 (561)
Cast
- Shan Xin
- Liu Mingyue
- Hao Xianghai
- Ding Dang
- Yuntu Cao
- Sheng Feng
- Chen Siyu
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Crunchyroll, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Legend of Hei about?
- A displaced cat demon discovers that belonging is less about species than the bonds built across a divided magical world.
- What is The Legend of Hei like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Legend of Hei as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Legend of Hei violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Legend of Hei as mild.
- What did critics think of The Legend of Hei?
- Audiences and critics broadly regard the film as a charming, visually inventive Chinese animated fantasy with emotional warmth and strong worldbuilding.
- Which films are like The Legend of Hei?
- Films with a similar feel include Spirited Away, The Cat Returns, Ne Zha, and Wolfwalkers.
- How long is The Legend of Hei?
- The Legend of Hei runs 102 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Legend of Hei?
- In United States, The Legend of Hei streams on Crunchyroll, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel.
