Animation Another World has become Hong Kong’s biggest local film of 2025 to date, while the release of Avatar: Fire And Ash has been pushed to 2026 due to a recent tragedy in the territory.
Another World, the feature debut of Hong Kong-based director Tommy Ng Kai Chung, has surged past $1.8m (HK$14m) at the local box office after six weeks on release since its opening on October 29 through Edko Films. It now ranks as Hong Kong’s highest grossing local film this year to date.
Adapted from Japanese author Naka Saijo’s fantasy book Sennenki: Thousand-Year Journey of an Oni, the 2D animation is imbued with Buddhist philosophy and reincarnation themes. It focuses on a spirit guide, tasked with taking transient souls to their next life, who embarks on a perilous mission to prevent a young girl from transforming into a monster.
The screenplay is written by Hong Kong’s Polly Yeung, who serves as producer along with Singapore-based Chan Gin Kai. It was the first Hong Kong animation in more than two decades to have been selected for Annecy and won the best animation prize at the Golden Horse Awards last month.
Local titles that have crossed HK$10m ($1.29m) at the Hong Kong box office this year include Adam Wong’s The Way We Talk, Nick Cheung’s Peg O’ My Heart and Albert Mak’s Hit N Fun.
Meanwhile, Avatar: Fire And Ash has been pushed from its original December 17 opening into 2026 in response to a devastating fire at a high-rise Hong Kong residential estate last month. The film has been titled Avatar 3 in the territory to avoid insensitivity.
The fire, which broke out on November 26 in a densely populated complex in Tai Po district, left at least 160 people dead. It is Hong Kong’s most deadly fire for several decades.
A statement issued by 20th Century Studios said: “Out of respect for the Hong Kong community and in light of the recent incident in Tai Po, we have decided to postpone the release of Avatar 3. Originally scheduled for December 17, the film will now be released in 2026… A new release date will be announced as soon as possible.”
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