The wildly popular Chinese animated series White Cat Legend, which captivated audiences with its blend of Tang Dynasty intrigue and feline-led detective work, is now making an unprecedented leap to live theater. A stage musical adaptation of the show is currently in production, set to premiere in major Chinese cities during the 2025-2026 performance season.
Since its 2020 debut, the series has become a cultural phenomenon, amassing 3.5 billion views through two critically acclaimed seasons. The story follows Li Bing – a white cat serving as chief investigator for the Court of Judicial Review – as he unravels political conspiracies using both supernatural abilities and deductive reasoning.
The stage adaptation promises to retain the animation's signature mix of historical authenticity and creative fantasy. Theater producers have revealed plans to employ cutting-edge projection mapping to bring the series' distinctive ink-wash art style to three-dimensional life, while preserving its core themes of justice and wisdom prevailing over corruption.
This transition from screen to stage reflects China's growing trend of adapting digital-native IP for live audiences. Cultural analysts note the production could set new benchmarks for cross-medium storytelling in Asia's entertainment industry.
