‘Ne Zha’ 2 review: Animation on a scale you’ve never seen before
Unstoppable force
If I were to tell you back in January that a Chinese animation film starring a rebellious baby demon spawn and a shapeshifting dragon deity is about to obliterate the global box office and become the fifth highest-grossing film of all time—beating out epics such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Avengers: Infinity War—would you believe me?
To the general public who largely only consumes Eurocentric media, it would certainly seem like Ne Zha 2 came out of nowhere. But to those already familiar with the huge success of the first Ne Zha in 2019, it made perfect sense.
Featuring the iconic mythological characters Ne Zha and Ao Bing, Ne Zha 2 became a box office behemoth, taking only *checks notes* 12 days to gross $1 billion in China alone. Within a month of its release, the sequel crossed the $2 billion mark at the global box office, completely setting fire to Inside Out 2’s record of $1.699 billion to become the highest-grossing animation in history.
Naturally, this level of unprecedented success for a non-Hollywood and non-English film has caused a paradigm shift. With China’s Ne Zha 2 breaking records, are the foundations of Hollywood institutions such as Disney and Pixar seeing cracks? Whether the old guards are sweating from the blazing fire of Ne Zha 2 (they should be), one thing’s for sure—the spark has been lit and the flames show no signs of stopping.
If Hollywood giants want to keep their titles as animation and storytelling powerhouses, they should take down several notes from Ne Zha 2—find out more ahead.
[Minor spoilers ahead!]
AN AGE-OLD STORY TOLD ANEW
The tale of Ne Zha is anything but new. In fact, his story has roots tracing back to the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods, making him about 500 years old in China’s literary canon. There have been countless films and TV shows depicting the firecracker deity, so what makes this modern Ne Zha franchise so different?
Directed and written by Jiao Zi, Ne Zha (2019) and Ne Zha 2 take creative liberties on his origin story but do not ruin the essence of the source material. The antagonists are given the same treatment as their history and motivations are fleshed out well. Much like Marvel’s What If series that reimagines significant moments in the MCU, the Ne Zha films cast several important questions on the age-old classic.
What if Ne Zha had loving and supportive parents from the start? What if Ne Zha and Ao Bing became great friends rather than foes? What if there was a reason behind Ne Zha’s innate streak of stubbornness and rebellion?
Yes, themes such as rebellion against authority, filial piety, and destiny are still prominent throughout the films, but recontextualised in ways that take the once predictable story of Ne Zha to exciting and uncharted places.
In recent years, Hollywood has been experiencing IP fatigue, and even the biggest franchises, such as Indiana Jones and Mission Impossible, have failed to top the box office. The current landscape is filled with many live-action adaptations and remakes trying to recapture the nostalgic magic without adding anything fresh or exciting. Conversely, studios are also doing too much that it ends up alienating longtime fans.
It’s a tough line to balance, for sure. But what is clear is that movie-goers are more discerning than ever and can sniff out a nostalgic cash grab when they see it. Simply put, we’re tired of the mindless drivel the Hollywood machine keeps churning out.
The astronomical success of Ne Zha 2 shows that not only are people hungry and eager for new stories—and indeed, open to stepping out of non-English films to expand their media diet—but that they are also willing to watch familiar IP if given the same level of creativity and imagination.
With Latvian indie film Flow winning Best Animated Picture at the Oscars, it goes to show that small and niche animated firms can not only compete with Hollywood studios but also win. Heart, soul, and a real love for the characters speak to the people, and the sooner the old guards understand that nostalgia alone isn’t going to cut it, the better.
VISUALS UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN
Of course, I can laud the gripping storytelling of Ne Zha 2, but the real standout of the film is its breathtaking animation. While still amazing on its own, 2019’s Ne Zha is a mere appetiser for what Ne Zha 2 has in store.
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I watched Ne Zha 2 in my favourite IMAX Hall at The Exchange TRX’s Aurum Theatre. Trust me when I say that this is the only way to watch Ne Zha 2 to enjoy the film in all its stunning glory—it is specifically made to adapt to IMAX screens, so you would be doing yourself a great disservice if you don’t.
Action-packed sequences–whether it be hand-to-hand combat or fantastical epic battles—are whip-fast and buttery smooth; details such as skin texture and reflective dragon scales are more pronounced; and scenes with panoramic views of water and fire look downright real. Vibrant shades of blue, red, and gold also burst from the screen.
Furthermore, Ne Zha 2 creates extraordinary visuals you just don’t see in animation. I’m talking a swarm of warriors standing atop a tree in the clouds to create the shape of a giant gold Ginkgo tree, the ancient Tianyuan Cauldron emerging from the clouds to swallow an entire city, and waterfalls of lava pouring out from slashes in the sky.
The film took five years and over 4,000 dedicated animators to make on a modest budget of $80 million. To put that into perspective, Inside Out 2’s budget was $200 million while Despicable Me 4 cost $100 million. It’s no exaggeration to say that Hollywood film budgets have become severely bloated.
Just this year so far, Netflix’s The Electric State has spent $320 million, whilst Disney’s Snow White cost a reported budget of $240 to $270 million. Both have failed to draw the crowds despite extensive marketing. Pumping all that money into project after project doesn’t hide that Hollywood is creatively bankrupt and has been for a while now. If anything, Ne Zha 2 shows that there are thrilling and original stories to be found elsewhere.
CHARACTERS THAT INSPIRE
While we categorise Ne Zha 2 as a high fantasy action film, it still packs an emotional punch that will have you in tears (or, in my case, ugly sobbing in the theatres).
Ne Zha is as uncouth and unruly as always, but writer-director Jiao Zi adds new layers and nuances that still make sense for the character. In the film, Ne Zha is born from a demon pearl and cursed to die by lightning on the third year (it’s a whole thing, just go with it).
Because of his innate demonic nature, the young boy is ostracised by villagers and treated like a monster. Ne Zha’s brash and cruel outer shell serves to protect his lonely and bruised heart. Those feelings of othering and a need for validation are universal struggles people of all ages can relate to. Because of that, we feel and root for Ne Zha despite his flaws and shortcomings.
Another thing we liked was the depiction of male characters in the film. It is my belief that modern Hollywood is having a masculinity crisis. From Todd Phillips’ abominable deconstruction of Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker and the one-dimensional characterisation of Paul Mescal in Gladiator II to the bastardisation of legacy male superheroes in the MCU, Hollywood no longer knows how to write good male characters.
In the Ne Zha films, we see plenty of formidable men cry, hug, and are not afraid to show vulnerability. While Ne Zha cries over his loneliness and failure to make his parents proud, he also has a strong moral compass and doesn’t hesitate to fight injustice and evil when he sees it.
These traits of loyalty, righteousness, and courage make Ne Zha the epitome of the quintessential respectable Male Hero—something that is on the fast decline in modern Hollywood. Don’t get us wrong, we love Girl Bosses, but they shouldn’t come at the expense of their male counterparts. With all his insecurities, anxieties, and instinct to protect the weak and oppressed, Ne Zha is the inspiring and relatable male hero audiences have been waiting for.
Apart from the male characters, interpersonal relationships also play a strong role in the film. Departing from the tumultuous father-son relationship between Li Jin and Ne Zha in the novel, the film series sees Ne Zha born into a loving and supportive family that does not give up on their son. This strong family unit shows that the way to approach a rebellious, angry and/or depressed child is not through anger or fear but through love and empathy.
Moreover, the retelling of Ne Zha and Ao Bing’s relationship is heartwarming to watch. Vastly different from the novel (spoiler: Ne Zha actually gruesomely kills Ao Bing), this version sees them become best friends who bond over their shared trauma and anxieties. I’ve missed seeing this level of male camaraderie and friendships on screen.
THE FINAL VERDICT
With its breathtaking animation, high-octane action sequences, and a gripping storyline, Ne Zha 2 has undoubtedly proven why it is the world’s highest-grossing animated film of all time—and by extension, exposes what is lacking in modern Hollywood storytelling that has long dominated the genre. We hope they feel the burn.
Final rating: 9.5/10
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