A 29-year-old former train driver from China’s Yunnan province has achieved global viral success after writing and directing a 3.5-minute AI-generated short film for just 3,000 yuan (approximately ₹42,246). Released on Chinese social media on May 9, 2026, the Atompunk-style sci-fi love story, Zombie Scavenger, was completed in just 10 days using commercial AI tools. The project has garnered over 60 million views worldwide and caught the attention of Hollywood-based filmmaker PJ Accetturo, who praised it on social media, stating, “This is one of the best short films I have seen in years/ If anyone can find the director, please link his socials. I would love to hire him but I cannot find him, I think he is a Chinese creator on Douyin.”
The creator, Liu Ziyu, has an unconventional background with no formal training in art or computer science, having transitioned from operating trains to working as a wedding photographer. Explaining his cinematic process, Liu noted that realistic AI output depends heavily on narrative logic rather than simple commands, stating, “My prompt formula is: movement plus motivation plus mood, rather than simply telling AI to do what movements.”
While Liu has politely declined immediate relocation to the United States due to language barriers, he remains open to future commercial collaborations with Accetturo’s team. The intellectual property rights for the short film have already been licensed to a domestic Chinese film company. Remaining focused on his creative growth, Liu remarked, “I hate becoming dizzy with a short-term success. I will continue studying. I look forward to my next work project and hope it can also pass the scrutiny of the public.”
