When the Chinese animated fantasy film Ne Zha was released in 2019, it became the highest-grossing non-US animated film that year. The film garnered notable attention for having a relatively unknown cast and a director making his first feature film with an animated fantasy adventure taking on a $22 million production. The gamble paid off as it became a box office hit, eventually earning over $740 million. Five years later, director Yu Yang is back with Ne Zha 2 – which has already dethroned Pixar’s Inside Out 2 as the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Following the events in the first film, the physical bodies of Ne Zha (Yanting Lü) and his friend Ao Bing (Mo Han) have been destroyed by heavenly lightning. Ne Zha’s master Taiyi Zhenren (Jiaming Zhang) attempts to regenerate new bodies for them but Ne Zha’s hometown of Chentang Pass is soon threatened by Ao Guang, Ao Bing’s father and the Dragon King of the East Sea, at the risk of his son’s life. With his home and Ao Bing’s life at stake, Ne Zha ventures to secure an elixir that will regenerate his friend’s body, only to discover a conspiracy that sparks a war between good and evil.
After the release of Ne Zha, the stakes for the sequel to meet the same success were sky-high. But Yu Yang is more than prepared to deliver – there are over double the number of animators behind the scenes (over 4,000, compared to the 1,600 in the first film) and the production costs for Ne Zha 2 reached a hefty 600 million yuan (roughly $83 million), making it the most expensive animated film ever made in China. It sounds like a costly mantle to sit on but China has proven that its animated films can compete on an international level with recent releases such as Jiang Ziya (2020), Deep Sea and Chang’an (2023) eventually becoming acclaimed box-office successes. And with Ne Zha 2, Yu Yang is ready to prove that his debut feature film was no fluke.
Inspired by the 16th-century Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods, Ne Zha 2 shapes itself as an epic adventure. Putting aside the frenemy relationship established between Ne Zha and Ao Bing, the sequel expands their story to involve other immortal and celestial beings with incredible skills and powers, not to mention ulterior motives that ultimately test the loyalties between demons and gods. However, the convoluted story won’t deter audiences from watching this film as there is more than Ne Zha 2 than just its mythological premise. Yu’s screenplay incorporates conventional themes such as family, loyalty and dualism so the sequel will have enough appeal for audiences unfamiliar with the original story.
Most of the appeal stems from the eponymous character Ne Zha. A shorter and less refined protagonist in comparison to the elegant Ao Bing, Ne Zha possesses a cockiness that seems to acknowledge his potential but when it comes to proving that he is worthy of being an immortal, he reminds audiences of his humanity – by hilariously stumbling at the first hurdle. In addition, he is more willing to show emotional attachment (especially to his friends and family), conveying a fear of mortality amid the steadfast dialogue that sees him concerned for others. Although Ao Bing has the skills to beat a foe down, Ne Zha’s charm comes from him being a mere child thrust into an impossible situation, pushing him to become the hero he always wanted to be.
With the fight between good and evil firmly established, the animation and action sequences help raise Ne Zha 2 into something spectacular. The sequel is the culmination of five years of hard work and it clearly shows, with some of the most eye-watering yet graceful fight scenes seen in animation. The intricacy and use of colours pop off the screen with a bang while the traditional and modern animation skills result in aesthetics that blend the best of both styles, culminating in a final battle scene that puts the portals scene of Avengers: Endgame to shame.
Overall, Ne Zha 2 may be hard to follow but its kid-friendly laughs and dazzling visuals are a step up from what audiences are used to from Hollywood. An animated film destined for the biggest screens available, Ne Zha 2 is a breathtaking feast for the eyes.
Ne Zha 2 is out in UK cinemas from 21 March.
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Director: Yu Yang
Stars: Yanting Lü, Mo Han, Hao Chen, Deshun Wang, Qi Lü
Runtime: 144 minutes
Country: China
