Ne Zha (2019)

[Drunk Monk]

Nezha is the baby god, a figure out of Chinese myth like the Monkey King. In fact, he battles the Monkey King early on in Journey to the West.  He is the baby god, with a magic spear, a magic scarf and flaming wind fire wheels for celestial roller skates which evolve into the Wind Fire Wheel weapons of Kung Fu, the ones I demonstrated for Man at Arms: Art of War. This animated film was a major blockbuster in PRC and I've been wanting to see it since.

It's an origin story, but I don't know much about Nezha's origins beyond JttW and research I've done on the weapons. My friend Prof. Meir Shahar did a major academic study on him but embarrassingly I've not read that yet.  In this, Nezha's birth ritual is disrupted by evil forces and split into two entites. Nezha is raised in a village but he's an outcast and rightly so because he brings destruction whenever he escapes from his home.  This makes him an angsty brat with untold superpowers.  His parents are minor deities and he has a mentor, a fat drunken god who rides a flying pig with dumbo ears and has a magic paintbrush with which he can create holodecks in paintings and paint objects to change reality.  The split entity is a born in a dragon who incarnates as a white clad warrior with deer horns.  The Dragon King is chained at the bottom of the sea with the dragon clan, keeping back hellish demons from rising to the earth.  It's heavy Yaoguai magic, a deep dive into Chinese myth.

At first, this felt like it stole the backgrounds from Kung Fu Panda, but it takes off when the magic battles begin.  There's some great stuff in here.  Sure, it's got a lot of the trappings of PRC animation, pee & fart jokes (including a fart trap escape), lots of cartoonish comic relief like dopey Monty Pythonesque guards, a burly effeminant villager, a drunk fool, a flying pig that sneezes visions, a sea demon that blows petrifying bubbles and antidote snot.  It's all about the fight scenes.  There are sword fights, magic chi blasts, weird spiky weapons, that magic spear, a magic flywhisk, that magic brush and shuttlecock action - total superhero choreo, very satisfying and somewhat fresh in its vision.

The funny thing is the version I watched had fan subtitiles which were clearly generated by just tossing it into some web translator, so some were right and the rest was literal, so made little sense.  Nezha's parents call him "pediatric inquisition".  All the explanations of the foundation myths make no sense at all.  My fav was a subtitle that had no context - "heart is meat".  Between my broken Mandarin, following the context and the weird subtitles, this was an exercise to understand.  I'd probably have had better luck if I just ignored the subs, but they were rather amusing in their own way.

Yes, sword fights.  Not a lot, but it was the fight scenes that sold this.  Not DOOM recommended, except maybe for the cfs if they're into Chinese myth, or ED if he wants a dose of state-of-the-art PRC animation.

[Drunk Monk]

[Drunk Monk]

If you’re tuned in, you know that Ne Zha 2 is the biggest film coming out of the Lunar New Year rush, earning $1B and on it’s way to $2B - the most successful PRC animated film yet. It’s going into wide international release. I hope to see it this week.

In prep, I rewatched the original, which is what I should’ve done for Creation of the Gods 2. Again, I forgot so much about this film that it makes me wonder about my state of mind, but re-reading my original review, clearly I saw it and was paying attention. I just didn’t retain much over the last 5 years. 

One second viewing, it appealed to me less. The immortals are annoying, and I disdain evil dragons. Ne Zha is a misunderstood brat, but that’s the legend. His immortal shifu is too much of a drunken clown and I still don’t get the flying pig. But at least I’m ready for 2, which I should see soon - I think the wide release will extend to the Cruz. 

Seen on hoopla.

[Drunk Monk]

Wow! That was next level. It’s like the wildest video game ever. The animation is such a step up from the last one. So visual. The 3D was so deep - especially the subtitles. And there was some insanely detailed shots - universes getting ripped open, demon hordes, immortals, cosmic battles, well done! Bravo!

D00M recommended. Don’t bother with Ne Zha 1. This is such a better film on every level. Go back and watch 1 after this like a prequel. All you gotta know is that these characters are deities with divine magic. Puerile humor to heavy mother & son feels. Great fights and massive battles. With lava! Tentacle general. Shark general. Magic beasts. I was blown away.

Note that this movie might not make a lick of sense if you don’t know who Ne Zha is, but it’s so visual that you just need to know he’s a demon brat with a good heart.

[thatguy]

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

That's an old Ne Zha. Here's the new one:

[Drunk Monk]

On Feb 18, 2025, Ne Zha2 became the highest-grossing animated film of all-time:

1. Ne Zha 2: $1.7B
   
2. Inside Out 2 : $1.7B
   
3. The Lion King: $1.65B
   
4. Frozen 2: $1.45B
   
5. Super Mario Bros: $1.36B
   

[Drunk Monk]

A24 to Release Chinese Animated Blockbuster ‘Ne Zha 2’ in U.S. Theaters (With Michelle Yeoh Leading English Voice Cast)

A rare collaboration between the indie distributor and China's state-backed distributor CMC Pictures brings the top-grossing animation ever to North American screens in August.
By Patrick Brzeski

July 9, 2025 5:00am  'Ne Zha 2' Courtesy of A24

A24 and CMC Pictures are joining forces to bring an English-language version of Ne Zha 2, the runaway animated box office sensation from China, to theaters across North America this summer.

The English version will feature Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh in a lead voice role. The film will open in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 22, screening in Imax, 3D, and other premium large formats.

Ne Zha 2 became the world’s top-grossing animated film of all time following its release earlier this year during China’s Lunar New Year holiday. It has earned a massive $2.2 billion, surpassing Pixar’s Inside Out 2 ($1.7 billion) at the global office. It is also the fifth highest-grossing film worldwide overall, with nearly all of its revenue coming from the Chinese mainland.

Directed by Yang Yu (aka Jiaozi), the film is the long-awaited sequel to 2019’s Ne Zha, a modern reimagining of the mythological Chinese folk hero that became a cultural phenomenon and a milestone for Chinese animation. Ne Zha 2 builds on that legacy with a continuation of the saga, blending high-concept storytelling with even more impressive visual spectacle.

“I’m honored to be part of Ne Zha 2, a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” Yeoh said in a statement. “Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”

The franchise’s story follows the rebellious young demigod Ne Zha — born to mortal parents and feared by the heavens — as he wrestles with immense powers and a destiny to face an ancient force bent on humanity’s destruction.

Already a global fan favorite in its original Chinese-language release, Ne Zha 2 ranks as the highest-rated animated film of the year on Rotten Tomatoes and one of 2025’s top-rated titles on Letterboxd.

The A24-CMC partnership will pose a litmus test of the U.S. market’s appetite for Chinese storytelling, as well as the strategic potential of crossover animation when backed by a potent mix of talent and scale.

I told every nerd I know to watch this on the big screen. Only a few did and they were all dazzled. I will say it again. See this on a big screen. I may splurge on IMAX. Here's my write up on it ICYMI - https://www.immortal-studios.com/post/xi...w-ne-zha-2

[Drunk Monk]

I told you and so many others to see this on the big screen.

Now you get another chance and you won’t be distracted by those pesky subtitles.