THE PHENOMENON
Why did people suddenly talk about it?
Attention is not approval. The useful way to read this story is to separate reported facts, online jokes, and personal viewing experience.
An extreme, easy-to-repeat starting point
The early box-office number gave the story a sharp entry point. Soon, curiosity about what a theatrically released animation with almost no public materials could possibly be became bigger than the number itself.
Three layers, three different meanings
- Reporting: documents what was reported at a particular time.
- Social discussion: shows why people wanted to share and watch the story unfold.
- Personal viewing: is where an individual judgment of the film begins.