Nike Chinese New Year ad uses deep fake tech to portray China’s best athletes as their younger selves

Nike China has unveiled its Chinese New Year ad, recruiting the nation’s best-known athletes in a bid to inspire young people.

Produced by creative agency Wieden+Kennedy Shanghai, the ad uses deep fake technology and live-action video to portray China’s biggest sporting stars as their younger selves, brimming with big dreams.

The athletes include Olympic Gold medalist Liu Xiang, footballer Wang Shuang, basketballer Yi Jianlian, and two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na.

During the brand’s spot, the younger versions of the stars – joined by British tennis player Emma Raducanu and Chinese tennis player Zheng Qinwen – sit down for a Chinese New Year dinner.

The ‘Never Done Dreaming Big’ campaign comes off the back of Nike’s insight that Generation Z value rationality and practicality while also maintaining big aspirations for the future.

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The promotion is also supported by a second animated ad titled ‘The Bunny Run’ which sees Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian share his adoration for chasing bunnies when he was younger.

The news comes months after Nike FC released ‘Footballverse’ – a sci-fi-style ad spot that saw iconic past and present football players come together in a football multiverse.

Taking inspiration from the recent Marvel superhero films, the Footballverse imagined a reality in which the best players from across the ages compete against each other.