[2] It was originally titled "Xiǎo Yīng Zi" before Yang changed it to appear more Chinese.
Upon initial publication, the comic strip gained popularity in few months, and Yang exited her job with the magazine Comics Monthly (漫画月刊) to work as a freelancer in September 1999.
In the same year, Yang registered the Zhengzhou Little Cherry Cartoon Art Co. At one point there was a circulation of 17 million comic book copies.
Derivative works and products included beverages, Flash animation, and toys.
[7] Media sources including Sina Games and Taiwan-based Liberty Times have included comparisons between the Little Cherry animated series and the Japanese manga and anime series Chibi Maruko-chan, such as their similar titles, in articles about alleged plagiarism in Chinese animation.