Theatrical release poster
Originally Published in the March 21st Print Publication
When the lights dim and trailers for movies to be released months later begin popping up on the big, expensive screen, one leans back against the hard theater seat, trying to not spill popcorn all over one’s pants.
You might have heard of this movie before, but you know nothing about it, or its prequel. Many in the theater are in the same situation. You only know that this is the new highest-grossing animated film.
Ne Zha 2, which was released on January 29th of this year, has taken box offices by storm. The story picks up where the prequel left off, continuing the story of the (literal) demon child and folk deity Ne Zha on his quest to save his family and community. Directed by Jiao Zi (Yu Yang), the film continues to explore the rich tapestry of the Chinese mythical canon and the universe of the Investiture of the Gods, a sprawling 16th-century Chinese novel on which the film series is loosely based.
According to legend, Ne Zha was the son of Li Jing and Lady Yin, who killed the dragons ravaging their countryside town in an attempt to save his community. Ne Zha later committed suicide for his actions and was brought back to life by Taiyi Zhenren, the deity of divine salvation and Ne Zha’s teacher in the film series. The film series pays homage to the mythos by allowing characters from the canon such as Taiyi Zhenren and the dragon prince appear, while giving them a modern spin and fashioning them into more likeable, sometimes even laughable, characters.
Despite having had a successful prequel in 2019 and passing the two billion mark in box offices, Ne Zha 2 doesn’t sacrifice any of its brilliant storytelling in favor of action or drama. In fact, it does even better than its predecessor at getting its story across and fleshing out the universe in which these characters exist.
Unlike the thousand-page long novel, Ne Zha 2 is quick to get through and delivers punch after punch after punch. Some of the “villains” of the film are village gophers and a beauty-obsessed rock. Each of the characters, while funny, all help push the story forward to an unforeseeable twist near the end of the film.
Visually, Ne Zha 2 is even more of a triumph. The animation is vivid and stunning, and each character moves fluidly, with colorful designs to each scene. The audience is taken above the skies to palaces in the air, below the sea to prisons made of molten rock and chains, and to a highly-fictionalized version of Ancient China, blending traditional art influences such as ink painting and mythical creatures such as dragons and shape-shifters with 3D animation.
The voice cast also adds further depth to the film, with some speaking in regional Chinese dialects for a more comedic and authentic experience.
While staying true to the spirit of the original novel and the myths it is based on, all of them telling stories about rebellion against authority and individualism, the films add new themes to the Ne Zha canon, concepts such as friendship and camaraderie, wherein Ne Zha has to achieve his goals this time with the help of everyone around him, not just by himself. Villains from the previous film are fleshed out and given full arcs, where they redeem themselves and grow from past mistakes and misconceptions.
If there would be one critique of Ne Zha 2, it would be that the subplots could have been explored more to enhance character arcs and build the story further. However, in general, Ne Zha 2 is a well-paced, boldlyexecuted film that proves charming to its audience.
Beyond just being a visually stunning film, Ne Zha 2 is a cultural milestone, also being the highest-grossing non-English film of all time. It opens new doors and paves bridges for cultural communication in a fun environment by offering a fresh perspective on old stories. As of March 19th, 2025, Ne Zha 2 stands as the 5th highest grossing film of all time, and may continue to reach higher in the coming months.
To conclude, Ne Zha 2 has more than proved itself to be a worthy successor of the first film. It blends tradition with innovation, honoring its mythical roots while concocting a beautiful and visually stunning spectacle. Just like how the film’s plot ends on a hopeful note, Ne Zha 2 sets the stage for further adventures with the titular character and more brilliant animation to come.