Animation is changing. Fast. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the seasonal charts, you’ve probably seen the buzz around the To Be Hero X OP and the show itself, but honestly, it’s hard to put into words what makes this project so bizarrely special. It isn't just another flashy action show. It’s a massive collaborative flex from Paper Plane Animation and Bilibili, directed by Li Haoling, the mind behind Link Click. You probably remember Link Click for its emotional gut-punches. This is different. It’s louder.
The opening sequence—the "OP"—is a statement of intent. It’s where the production team basically decided to show off every technical trick in the book.
People often sleep on donghua. Big mistake. While many fans are still strictly tied to Japanese anime, the Chinese animation scene has been quietly building a powerhouse of technical skill that rivals, and sometimes exceeds, the big studios in Tokyo. To Be Hero X OP serves as the perfect gateway drug for skeptics. It’s a mix of 2D and 3D that doesn't feel clunky or "cheap." It feels intentional.
The Visual Chaos of the To Be Hero X OP
Let's talk about that opening. Most shows give you a 90-second montage of characters looking at the horizon while a J-pop track plays. Standard. Safe. But the To Be Hero X OP feels like someone threw a digital paint bucket at the screen and somehow made it look like high art. It uses a concept called "Top Hero," where people compete in a virtual world where their power is fueled by the trust of their followers.
Think about that. Your strength is literally tied to your social credit. It’s a weirdly meta commentary on modern internet culture, isn't it?
The animation in the opening moves at a breakneck pace. You’ve got these high-contrast color palettes—deep purples, neon cyans, and harsh reds—that shouldn't work together but somehow do. It reminds me of the chaotic energy of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse but with a distinctly Eastern flair. The character movements are fluid, almost liquid-like, utilizing "smear frames" to give a sense of immense speed. If you pause the To Be Hero X OP at any random second, you’re likely to find a frame that looks like a finished illustration. That's rare. Usually, in-between frames are messy. Here? They’re deliberate.
Why Li Haoling Is the Director to Watch
Li Haoling is a name you need to know. He’s not just a director; he’s a stylist. His work on Link Click proved he could handle tight, suspenseful storytelling. With this project, he’s leaning into the "over-the-top" aesthetic.
There's a specific shot in the opening where the camera rotates 360 degrees around a character as they descend through a digital cityscape. This is a nightmare to animate. You have to keep the proportions consistent while shifting the perspective of the entire background. Most studios would use a static 3D background and just move the character. Paper Plane seems to have integrated the two so seamlessly that it's hard to tell where the hand-drawn art ends and the CGI begins.
It's impressive. Honestly.
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The Music: A Synesthetic Experience
You can't talk about the To Be Hero X OP without talking about the sound. The track isn't just background noise; it’s the heartbeat of the visuals. It blends electronic beats with orchestral swells, creating this "epic" feeling that matches the stakes of the Top Hero competition.
I’ve noticed a lot of fans debating the lyrics. They're abstract. They talk about identity, masks, and the weight of being "the hero." It’s not just about winning a fight. It’s about the psychological toll of being watched by millions. The music reflects this by layering distorted vocals over clean melodies. It’s "glitchy" in the best way possible.
Technical Nuance: 2D vs. 3D
Wait, let's get into the weeds for a second. The industry usually treats 3D as a cost-cutting measure. We've all seen those shows where the background characters move like wooden dolls.
To Be Hero X OP flips the script.
The 3D is used for kineticism. It allows for camera angles that are physically impossible in traditional hand-drawn animation. But they "skin" the 3D models with textures that look like 2D ink. It’s a technique often called "Cel-shading," but it’s pushed to its absolute limit here. The line work is thick and expressive. It has "soul."
A Few Things Most People Miss:
- The subtle use of chromatic aberration (that "rainbow" edge effect) to simulate a digital lens.
- The way the frame rate drops during specific action beats to emphasize impact.
- The recurring motif of "frames within frames," suggesting the characters are always being viewed through a screen.
It’s sophisticated stuff.
The Cultural Impact of the Top Hero Concept
The show isn't just about cool fights. It’s about the "hero" as a commodity. In the world of To Be Hero X, the heroes are essentially idols. They need likes. They need engagement.
If your "trust" meter drops, you lose your powers.
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This mirrors the "cancel culture" we see today. One wrong move and your career—or in this case, your actual life—is over. This adds a layer of tension to every scene. Every time you see a character in the To Be Hero X OP looking confident, you have to wonder how much of that is an act for the cameras. It’s a cynical take on the superhero genre, but it feels incredibly relevant.
The Evolution of the "To Be Hero" Franchise
If you’re a long-time fan, you know this franchise started out as a gag-heavy, somewhat crude comedy. To Be Hero and To Be Heroine were weird. Like, "protagonist-is-a-middle-aged-man-who-looks-like-a-superhero-but-is-actually-just-gross" weird.
To Be Hero X is a massive departure.
It’s like the franchise hit puberty and went through a "dark and gritty" phase, but kept its creative spark. The shift from low-budget comedy to high-budget prestige action is one of the most interesting pivots in modern animation history. It shows that the creators weren't content with just being a niche meme. They wanted to compete with the Jujutsu Kaisens and Demon Slayers of the world.
Why You Should Care About the OP Specifically
The opening is the handshake. It’s the first impression.
In the age of skipping intros, a good OP has to be unskippable. The To Be Hero X OP is one of those rare sequences that you watch every single time because you’re afraid you might miss a frame of detail. It sets the tone for the entire episode. It tells the viewer: "Buckle up, because we aren't holding back."
There's a specific sequence near the end of the OP where several heroes are showcased in quick succession. Each one has a distinct visual style—one looks like a classic ink wash painting, another like a futuristic neon sign. This variety is a testament to the art direction. It’s not just one style; it’s a celebration of all styles.
The Real-World Stakes of Production
High-quality animation like this doesn't come cheap. It requires thousands of man-hours and a clear vision. Bilibili is betting big on this. They want to prove that Chinese studios can produce "A-tier" global content.
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And they're succeeding.
The global reception to the To Be Hero X OP has been overwhelmingly positive, with Western animators frequently taking to social media to break down the "key animation" (sakuga). When the industry pros are impressed, you know you’re looking at something special. It’s not just hype. It’s craft.
What’s Next for the Series?
As we move deeper into the season, the visual language established in the opening is being used to tell a much more complex story than we initially expected. The "Top Hero" competition is clearly a facade for something deeper.
The mystery is half the fun.
But really, most of us are here for the spectacle. We want to see how far they can push the medium. If the To Be Hero X OP is any indication, we haven't seen anything yet. The ceiling for what this team can do seems to be non-existent.
Practical Steps for Animation Fans
If you want to truly appreciate what’s happening here, don't just watch the show on your phone. This is "big screen" animation.
- Watch in 4K if possible. The fine details in the background art and the digital effects are lost in lower resolutions.
- Pay attention to the credits. Look for names like Li Haoling or the lead animators. Following individual artists on social media is the best way to understand how these sequences are actually built.
- Compare it to the previous seasons. Seeing the jump in quality from the original To Be Hero to this is a masterclass in industry evolution.
- Check out the behind-the-scenes clips. Bilibili often releases "making of" videos that show the 3D wireframes and the early 2D sketches. It's eye-opening.
The To Be Hero X OP isn't just a 90-second song; it’s a glimpse into the future of how stories are told visually. It’s chaotic, it’s loud, and it’s absolutely brilliant. Don't skip it. Not even once.
Dive into the technical breakdowns of the key animation frames on sites like Sakugabooru to see which specific animators handled the high-motion sequences. This helps you identify the "handwriting" of different artists, from the way they draw debris to the specific timing of their character movements. Understanding these nuances changes the way you view every other animated project you watch. Keep a close eye on Paper Plane Animation’s official channels for updates on their proprietary software tools, as they are currently setting the standard for 2D/3D hybrid workflows.