The Northeast China Comedy Sketch Salon performance on Dec 11 at Jilin Animation Institute. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

A campus stage came alive with laughter, warmth, and rural stories as Xiaoliu Is Coming, a 2025 China National Arts Fund-supported project, returned to Jilin Animation Institute on Dec 11 after an eight-stop tour.

Headlining the Northeast China Comedy Sketch Salon, the project's four sketches, rooted in rural vitalization, blended vivid Northeast China folk culture with contemporary themes.

The event also marked a milestone for stage creation at Jilin Animation Institute. Since receiving national funding, Xiaoliu Is Coming has undergone multiple rounds of expert review and refinement and has appeared at major cultural events, including the 13th Jilin Campus Drama Festival, showcasing the institute's growing strength in theatrical performance and original creation.

All four works presented during the homecoming performance portrayed grassroots life and rural transformation through humor, warmth, and sharply drawn characters.

Performers pose for a group photo. [Photo provided to gojilin.gov.cn]

Chief writer and director Liu Enqi noted that rural vitalization reflects the genuine aspirations of millions of farmers for a better life, adding that every round of applause during the tour affirmed the team's commitment to using art to serve society.

Before returning to campus, the production toured eight institutions, including Northeast Normal University, Jilin University of Arts, and Changchun Normal University, earning consistent acclaim. Jin Renshun, chair of the Jilin Writers' Association, described it as "small in scale but refined, warm in tone yet powerful in spirit".