Daodao Dog creator: I fly with imagination

You probably already know Snoopy, but wait until you hear about Daodao. The canine cartoon character, born in 2002, is a crossbreed between cuteness and melancholy with its distinctive dark rings around the eyes and knife-shaped head that inspired its name (Dao means knife in Mandarin Chinese).

Behind Daodao Dog is an artist who draws inspiration from childhood memories and everyday life. In an interview with CGTN, Murong Yindao (real name Gan Feng), recalls a small dog he had for only one summer before disappearing when he returned to his grandparents' home.

"When I draw a dog, it won't leave me, nor would it grow old. It can stay with me forever. Everything I create can accompany me," he says.

During his years working on animation projects for overseas clients, repetitive, high-pressure tasks left little room for creativity. So to "feel alive," as he puts it, Murong began to sketch characters, including Daodao, as a way to capture fleeting thoughts and feelings.

Through this process, he found a space to record his emotions and the details surrounding him. For Murong, creation is about immersion and observation. From small gestures to ordinary objects, he turns daily life into a canvas for exploration, letting fantasy become both a companion and a space for reflection.

Executive producer: Zhang Jingwen

Producer: Yang Sha

Directors: Chen Hongyu and Zhao Ying

Videographers: Niu Jiangchao, Fan Manyuan and Li Yufei

Cover: Li Yueyun