Ne Zha has Investiture from the Gods
Even with his fiery temper and unique looks—characterized by dark circles under his eyes and crooked teeth—this young god known as Nezha sometimes transforms into a formidable human.
Since its release on January 29, the first day of the Chinese New Year, “Ne Zha 2”, directed by Yang Yu (also known as Jiaozi or Dumpling), has quickly become China’s top-grossing film, achieving this milestone in just eight days and five hours. On February 7, it took over the position from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to become the leading box-office film in a single market. By Friday, the movie has earned over 10.7 billion yuan ($1.47 billion), making it the second-highest-grossing animated film worldwide.
Following its release in Oceania and North American markets on Thursday and Friday, this visually stunning film, representing the pinnacle of Chinese animation, aims to captivate more foreign audiences in around 40 countries and regions. With future markets stretching across Asia, Europe and Africa, the list includes Japan, Greece, South Africa, Egypt and Thailand.
Is Good and Evil really Yin and Yang?
The movie’s titular character, loosely inspired by the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) novel Fengshen Yanyi (Investiture of the Gods), undergoes a significant subversion in its retelling in the 1979 film “Nezha Conquers the Dragon King” produced by the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, the Chinese equivalent to Disney during the early years of domestic animation.
Beginning with a boldly imaginative scene, Nezha, the youngest son of General Li Jing, and his friend Ao Bing, the beloved son of the East Sea’s Dragon King, whose souls share one body after nearly dying in the first film, embark on a new adventure. To win a treasure that would allow Ao to separate from their shared body and regain his own, they must pass a three-round exam set by the highest deities. However, the situation grows increasingly complex, leading them to uncover a thrilling scheme that challenges the notions of good and evil.
Director Yang revealed in earlier interviews that the 1979 film had a profound impact on him, making him want to re-imagine its iconic plotlines, with two particularly challenging scenes being an epic battle in a tumultuous sea and a poignant moment portraying Nezha’s near-death experience.
Marking significant progress, the first Ne Zha installment enlisted over 1,600 animators from 60 companies. After five years of preparation and production, including two years polishing the script, the sequel brought together over 4,000 artists from 138 companies, creating 1,900 special shots that account for nearly 80 percent of its 2,400 shots.
“Ne Zha 2’s popularity is exciting and inspirational, but what the industry should pay more attention to is how we can give other films more screenings to increase diversity and endurance, ensuring the market’s long-term development,” says Rao from the China Film Critics Association.