But the 3D version of the mascot image failed to dodge bullets, as critical netizens sneered at this version: "Why are they using different colors asymmetrically? " "Reminds me of green and red lights." "Lost all the flair of that ink painting" "What are those balls under its ears?" "What a stiff body!" "It is so ugly that I just want to cry." Photo from Spring Festival Gala's offical Weibo account.

Han Meilin is surrounded by working sketches of the Spring Festival Gala mascot.

Han said on his social media that he only designed the original version of the mascot, which is the ink painting, but didn't participate in the 3D model design. "Of course we believe the ugly stuff has nothing to do with you," Web users said, responding to the respected artist. Photo from Han Meilin's Weibo

In a vote by Sina Weibo，China's Twitter-like website, 58.5 percent of people "liked" the ink painting version of the monkey, only 14.4 percent like the front view of the 3D version, while 12.5 percent want to "change its clothes", supposedly meaning they don't like the colors. Photo from Weibo.

Han Meilin's sketches of the Spring Festival Gala mascot. Photo from Han Meilin's Weibo.