The Three-Body Problem in Minecraft
A Minecraft machinima that became an official Three-Body adaptation.
The Three-Body Problem in Minecraft (Chinese: 我的三体; pinyin: Wǒdè Sāntǐ; lit. 'My Three-Body') is a Chinese web animation series adapted from Liu Cixin's science fiction novels *The Three-Body Problem* and *The Dark Forest*. It started as an unofficial fan-made machinima project, but from the second season onward, it became an officially licensed adaptation.
**Production** The series was directed by Li Zhenyi, a student at the University of Pau and the Adour Region and a fan of the novels. Frequently asked about the story, he decided to create an animated version using Minecraft. For the first episode, he handled everything except voice acting—writing the script, casting actors, and designing the game levels. Limited by technical skill, experience, and budget, the first season was rough around the edges, but it attracted volunteers to join the effort. After the fourth episode, a formal production team formed, and by the ninth episode, all members had shifted to full-time animation work.
With the second season, quality improved noticeably, adding lighting effects and facial expressions. It also became an official adaptation, securing financial backing and licensing from the original novel's publishers.
**Seasons** Each episode runs roughly 20 minutes. In the first season, there was a six-month gap between episodes 10 and 11. After the second episode of season two, updates paused for a long stretch, resuming in January 2018.
**Reception** Critical response was largely positive. On Chinese platforms Douban and Bilibili, the series scored an overall 9.7 out of 10. *People's Daily* noted that the creators' animation, voice acting, scene design, and editing turned blocky pixel art into something comparable to sci-fi films, especially praising the third season. *The Paper* commended the team for being fans of the original novels, allowing them to preserve key details and make the adapted story compelling and rich.
In 2015, the production team won the Silver Prize at the Xingyun Awards. Outside China, users have uploaded the series to YouTube, organizing each season into playlists.
- field
- Animation
- nationality
- Chinese
- known_for
- Minecraft-based adaptation of Liu Cixin's Three-Body Problem novels
- director
- Li Zhenyi
- ratings
- 9.7/10 on Douban and Bilibili
- award
- Silver Prize of the Xingyun Awards (2015)
Lore & Background
The series was created by Li Zhenyi, a student at the University of Pau and the Adour Region and a fan of the Three-Body Problem. After being frequently asked about the novel, he decided to use Minecraft to produce an animated adaptation. For the first episode, he was the only person involved besides voice actors, handling screenplay, auditions, and level design. Due to technical, experience, and financial constraints, the first season was relatively unprofessional, but it attracted others to join the production. After the fourth episode, a production team was formed, and after the ninth, all members converted to animation production.
With the second season, quality improved with the addition of lighting and character expressions. The series also became an official adaptation, receiving financial support and official licensing from the publishers of the original novel. Episodes average about 20 minutes. During the first season, there was a six-month gap between episodes 10 and 11. After the second episode of season two, updates were discontinued for a long time before broadcasting resumed in January 2018.
Reader's Guide
The Three-Body Problem in Minecraft is significant as a grassroots fan project that evolved into an officially licensed adaptation, demonstrating the potential of machinima and doujin works to gain mainstream recognition. Its critical reception was largely positive, with a 9.7/10 rating on Chinese platforms Douban and Bilibili. The People's Daily commended the creators' use of video-game-style pixel art to produce a quality comparable to sci-fi movies, especially in the third season. The Paper praised the production team's status as fans of the original novel, which allowed them to preserve appealing details and craft a compelling adapted plot. In 2015, the production team received the Silver Prize of the Xingyun Awards. Outside China, users have uploaded the series onto YouTube, organizing each season into playlists. The series stands as an example of how fan passion, combined with official support, can produce notable adaptations in the digital age.
Did You Know?
- The series was initially an unofficial machinima doujin work before becoming an official adaptation from the second season onward.
- Director Li Zhenyi was a student at the University of Pau and the Adour Region when he created the series.
- After the fourth episode, the creators set up a production team; after the ninth, they all converted to animation production.
- The series received a 9.7/10 rating on both Douban and Bilibili.
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