Mili Pictures Worldwide

Mili Pictures Worldwide is a Chinese feature-film animation company based in Shanghai. The company is associated with the development and production of animated theatrical features, including adaptations of established entertainment properties and projects created for international audiences. Its first released feature was Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, an animated fantasy adventure based on the online game Dragon Nest. The film was released in China in July 2014 and established Mili Pictures Worldwide as a participant in the country's growing feature-animation sector. Mili expanded its international production capabilities in 2014 by opening an office in Los Angeles, California. The office was headed by producer Bill Borden, whose prior credits included High School Musical and other film projects. The Los Angeles presence reflected the company's interest in working across Chinese and American production environments, developing projects with international creative personnel, and positioning its films for audiences beyond China. The company's publicly documented feature-film slate includes Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn (2014), The Three Little Pigs and the Lamp (2015), Throne of Elves (2016), the 2017–2018 project Shen Qi Huan Qi Tan, Ping Pong Rabbit (2019), and Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (2021), produced in co-operation with Spanish animation company BRB Internacional. These projects span fantasy adventure, fairy-tale adaptation, family comedy, and literary or pre-existing character properties. The slate indicates a business model centered on feature animation, intellectual-property adaptation, and international collaboration rather than a broad consumer-products brand. Mili's best-known early title is Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, which drew on the world and characters of the Dragon Nest online game. Throne of Elves followed as another fantasy-oriented animated feature. Later projects broadened the company's international profile: Ping Pong Rabbit was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Mike Johnson, who had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as co-director of Corpse Bride. Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds was made as a co-production with BRB Internacional, linking Mili to a European animation property and production partner. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about Mili Pictures Worldwide's ownership, corporate structure, finances, current leadership, distribution arrangements, and present operating status. It is therefore best characterized as a Shanghai-based animation production company with international project activity, rather than as a publicly listed entertainment conglomerate. Its documented importance comes primarily from its feature-film credits and cross-border production relationships.

Mili Pictures Worldwide is a feature-animation company headquartered in Shanghai, China. Public reference material identifies its first feature as Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, an animated adaptation of the online game Dragon Nest. The film reached Chinese cinemas in July 2014 and served as the company's introduction as a feature-film producer. In spring 2014, Mili opened an office in Los Angeles, California. Producer Bill Borden headed the office. His involvement connected the company with an experienced international film-production network and reflected Mili's effort to develop animation projects across Chinese and American production contexts. The Los Angeles operation also supported the company's outward-looking production strategy at a time when Chinese animation companies were seeking broader international partnerships and distribution opportunities. Mili's documented filmography developed through a sequence of animated features and projects. The Three Little Pigs and the Lamp followed in 2015, while Throne of Elves was released in 2016. The company was also associated with Shen Qi Huan Qi Tan during 2017–2018. These projects demonstrate a recurring interest in fantasy, fairy-tale, and family-oriented storytelling. The company's later work included Ping Pong Rabbit, a feature filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Mike Johnson. Johnson had previously been nominated for the 2005 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as co-director of Corpse Bride, alongside Tim Burton. The project therefore represented another connection between Mili and established international animation talent. In 2021, Mili participated in Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds as a co-production partner with BRB Internacional. The project expanded Mili's documented international relationships beyond the United States and China and connected the company with a European animation property. Available sources do not provide a detailed account of Mili's corporate ownership, financing, distribution contracts, or current activity after the listed filmography. Those areas require further verification.

• 2021

  Dogtanian co-production

  [1]Mili Pictures Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Mili co-produced Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds with BRB Internacional.

• 2019

  Ping Pong Rabbit project

  [1]Mili Pictures Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  The feature was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Mike Johnson.

• 2016

  Throne of Elves released

  [1]Mili Pictures Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  The fantasy animated feature became part of the company's early theatrical film slate.

• 2014

  First feature released

  [1]Mili Pictures Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, based on the Dragon Nest online game, was released in China in July.

• 2014

  Los Angeles office opened

  [1]Mili Pictures Worldwideen.wikipedia.org

  Mili established a Los Angeles office in spring, headed by producer Bill Borden.

Chinese feature-animation producer with a focus on fantasy, family entertainment, intellectual-property adaptations, and international co-production.

• Animated feature film · 2014

  Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn

  Mili's first feature film, this fantasy adventure adapts the world of the Dragon Nest online game for theatrical animation. Its China release in July 2014 marked the company's entry into feature-film production and established its association with game-based animated entertainment.

• Animated feature film · 2015

  The Three Little Pigs and the Lamp

  A 2015 animated feature in Mili Pictures Worldwide's documented filmography. The title combines the familiar Three Little Pigs story framework with a lamp-centered fantasy element, fitting the company's family-oriented and fairy-tale production profile.

• Animated feature film · 2016

  Throne of Elves

  A fantasy animated feature released in 2016. It belongs to Mili's recurring group of adventure-oriented animated films built around fantastical worlds and family entertainment.

• Animated project · 2017

  Shen Qi Huan Qi Tan

  A project listed in Mili Pictures Worldwide's filmography for the 2017–2018 period. The available reference identifies the project but supplies limited additional information about its format, story, release, or distribution.

• Animated feature film · 2019

  Ping Pong Rabbit

  A feature project associated with Mili that was filmed in Los Angeles. It was directed by Mike Johnson, who had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as co-director of Corpse Bride.

• Internationally co-produced animated feature · 2021

  Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds

  An animated feature co-produced by Mili Pictures Worldwide and BRB Internacional. The project brought Mili into collaboration on an established European family-entertainment property and was listed in the company's 2021 filmography.

• 2018

  Mili Pictures accused of owing cartoonist RMB 1.2 million in copyright fees; wages unpaid during layoffs

  On September 5, 2018, cartoonist Liu Chong publicly said that Mili Pictures owed about RMB 1.2 million in final copyright payments and manuscript fees for "Shenqi Huanqitan," which had been overdue for two years, and that he planned to seek legal remedies; the two sides settled and paid in full on October 12, 2018. Reports also said that during the company's 2016 layoffs, some remaining employees received only 30%–50% of their wages, and that more than half of the staff were later laid off and the company was split into three. Status: media report. Entity involved: Mili Pictures. Scope: creators and employees.

  Source

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• 2021

  Expanded co-production activity with BRB InternacionalStrategy

  Background

  Mili's filmography had already included projects connected with international production talent and locations.

  Action taken

  The company co-produced Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds with BRB Internacional.

  Aftermath

  The project added a European co-production relationship to Mili's documented international profile.

  Source

• 2014

  Established a Los Angeles production presenceStrategy

  Background

  Mili was developing feature animation for audiences and partners beyond China.

  Action taken

  The company opened a Los Angeles office in spring 2014 and placed producer Bill Borden in charge.

  Aftermath

  The office formed part of Mili's documented international activity, including Los Angeles filming and later cross-border projects.

  Source

1. 1Mili Pictures Worldwideen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Mili Pictures accused of owing cartoonist RMB 1.2 million in copyright fees; wages unpaid during layoffsjiemian.com
3. 3Mili Pictures accused of owing cartoonist RMB 1.2 million in copyright fees; wages unpaid during layoffshuxiu.com
4. 4Mili Pictures accused of owing cartoonist RMB 1.2 million in copyright fees; wages unpaid during layoffsylzbl.com