Art knows
no political boundaries. A gigantic mural of Frieren in China has
left the internet speechless this weekend, becoming the viral symbol of how
Japanese anime continues to conquer hearts in the Asian giant. The work,
located on the façade of an old school in the city of Jinan, stands
out for a level of detail so absurd that many believed it to be fake.
Real or
AI? The Truth Behind Frieren's Mural in China
When
user xiaosu59857 uploaded the original video to Douyin (the
Chinese TikTok), comments were filled with skepticism. The elf's integration
with the clouds, mountains, and texture of the building was so perfect that it
screamed "Artificial Intelligence." However, it has been confirmed
that it is a real physical painting, executed with scaffolding and traditional
mural techniques.
An otaku renovation project
This
tribute to Sousou no Frieren is not alone. It's part of an
artistic renewal initiative in the area that also includes murals of titans
like Naruto and Bleach. Seeing Frieren serenely
watching from the top of an ancient structure in Jinan has been described by
fans on X and Reddit as "epic" and a sign of cultural respect between
the new generations of both countries.
