Mili Pictures Worldwide
A Shanghai-based feature-animation company known for Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn and other international co-productions.
Last updated October 13, 2026
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Overview
Mili Pictures Worldwide is a Chinese feature-film animation company based in Shanghai. The company is associated with the development and production of animated theatrical features, including adaptations of established entertainment properties and projects created for international audiences. Its first released feature was Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, an animated fantasy adventure based on the online game Dragon Nest. The film was released in China in July 2014 and established Mili Pictures Worldwide as a participant in the country's growing feature-animation sector. Mili expanded its international production capabilities in 2014 by opening an office in Los Angeles, California. The office was headed by producer Bill Borden, whose prior credits included High School Musical and other film projects. The Los Angeles presence reflected the company's interest in working across Chinese and American production environments, developing projects with international creative personnel, and positioning its films for audiences beyond China. The company's publicly documented feature-film slate includes Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn (2014), The Three Little Pigs and the Lamp (2015), Throne of Elves (2016), the 2017–2018 project Shen Qi Huan Qi Tan, Ping Pong Rabbit (2019), and Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds (2021), produced in co-operation with Spanish animation company BRB Internacional. These projects span fantasy adventure, fairy-tale adaptation, family comedy, and literary or pre-existing character properties. The slate indicates a business model centered on feature animation, intellectual-property adaptation, and international collaboration rather than a broad consumer-products brand. Mili's best-known early title is Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, which drew on the world and characters of the Dragon Nest online game. Throne of Elves followed as another fantasy-oriented animated feature. Later projects broadened the company's international profile: Ping Pong Rabbit was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Mike Johnson, who had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as co-director of Corpse Bride. Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds was made as a co-production with BRB Internacional, linking Mili to a European animation property and production partner. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about Mili Pictures Worldwide's ownership, corporate structure, finances, current leadership, distribution arrangements, and present operating status. It is therefore best characterized as a Shanghai-based animation production company with international project activity, rather than as a publicly listed entertainment conglomerate. Its documented importance comes primarily from its feature-film credits and cross-border production relationships.
History
Mili Pictures Worldwide is a feature-animation company headquartered in Shanghai, China. Public reference material identifies its first feature as Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, an animated adaptation of the online game Dragon Nest. The film reached Chinese cinemas in July 2014 and served as the company's introduction as a feature-film producer. In spring 2014, Mili opened an office in Los Angeles, California. Producer Bill Borden headed the office. His involvement connected the company with an experienced international film-production network and reflected Mili's effort to develop animation projects across Chinese and American production contexts. The Los Angeles operation also supported the company's outward-looking production strategy at a time when Chinese animation companies were seeking broader international partnerships and distribution opportunities. Mili's documented filmography developed through a sequence of animated features and projects. The Three Little Pigs and the Lamp followed in 2015, while Throne of Elves was released in 2016. The company was also associated with Shen Qi Huan Qi Tan during 2017–2018. These projects demonstrate a recurring interest in fantasy, fairy-tale, and family-oriented storytelling. The company's later work included Ping Pong Rabbit, a feature filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Mike Johnson. Johnson had previously been nominated for the 2005 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as co-director of Corpse Bride, alongside Tim Burton. The project therefore represented another connection between Mili and established international animation talent. In 2021, Mili participated in Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds as a co-production partner with BRB Internacional. The project expanded Mili's documented international relationships beyond the United States and China and connected the company with a European animation property. Available sources do not provide a detailed account of Mili's corporate ownership, financing, distribution contracts, or current activity after the listed filmography. Those areas require further verification.
- 2021
Dogtanian co-production
[1]Mili co-produced Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds with BRB Internacional.
- 2019
Ping Pong Rabbit project
[1]The feature was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Mike Johnson.
- 2016
Throne of Elves released
[1]The fantasy animated feature became part of the company's early theatrical film slate.
- 2014
First feature released
[1]Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn, based on the Dragon Nest online game, was released in China in July.
- 2014
Los Angeles office opened
[1]Mili established a Los Angeles office in spring, headed by producer Bill Borden.
Products and positioning
Chinese feature-animation producer with a focus on fantasy, family entertainment, intellectual-property adaptations, and international co-production.
Animated feature film · 2014
Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn
Mili's first feature film, this fantasy adventure adapts the world of the Dragon Nest online game for theatrical animation. Its China release in July 2014 marked the company's entry into feature-film production and established its association with game-based animated entertainment.
Animated feature film · 2015
The Three Little Pigs and the Lamp
A 2015 animated feature in Mili Pictures Worldwide's documented filmography. The title combines the familiar Three Little Pigs story framework with a lamp-centered fantasy element, fitting the company's family-oriented and fairy-tale production profile.
Animated feature film · 2016
Throne of Elves
A fantasy animated feature released in 2016. It belongs to Mili's recurring group of adventure-oriented animated films built around fantastical worlds and family entertainment.
Animated project · 2017
Shen Qi Huan Qi Tan
A project listed in Mili Pictures Worldwide's filmography for the 2017–2018 period. The available reference identifies the project but supplies limited additional information about its format, story, release, or distribution.
Animated feature film · 2019
Ping Pong Rabbit
A feature project associated with Mili that was filmed in Los Angeles. It was directed by Mike Johnson, who had been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature as co-director of Corpse Bride.
Internationally co-produced animated feature · 2021
Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
An animated feature co-produced by Mili Pictures Worldwide and BRB Internacional. The project brought Mili into collaboration on an established European family-entertainment property and was listed in the company's 2021 filmography.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2021
Expanded co-production activity with BRB InternacionalStrategyBackground
Mili's filmography had already included projects connected with international production talent and locations.
Action taken
The company co-produced Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds with BRB Internacional.
Aftermath
The project added a European co-production relationship to Mili's documented international profile.
2014
Established a Los Angeles production presenceStrategyBackground
Mili was developing feature animation for audiences and partners beyond China.
Action taken
The company opened a Los Angeles office in spring 2014 and placed producer Bill Borden in charge.
Aftermath
The office formed part of Mili's documented international activity, including Los Angeles filming and later cross-border projects.
Recent events
- 2021
Mili Pictures Worldwide co-produced Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds[1]
M&A · Product launch
The company participated in a co-production of the animated feature Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds with BRB Internacional.
- 2019
Ping Pong Rabbit was produced with Los Angeles-based filming activity[1]
Product launch
Mili's feature project Ping Pong Rabbit was filmed in Los Angeles and directed by Mike Johnson, a former Academy Award nominee for Corpse Bride.
- 2014
Mili Pictures Worldwide released Dragon Nest: Warriors' Dawn in China[1]
Product launch
The company's first feature film, based on the Dragon Nest online game, was released in China in July 2014.
- 2014
Mili Pictures Worldwide opened a Los Angeles office[1]
Other
The company established a Los Angeles presence in spring 2014 under producer Bill Borden as part of its international production activity.
Sources4 sources
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