Ne Zha 2—The Chinese Blockbuster that you've probably never heard of

Honestly, it’s kind of embarrassing as to how long it took me to find out about these two animated films. It’s not exactly well-known within the western hemisphere—as this is a Chinese franchise—but it is everywhere in China and for good reason. With breathtaking graphics and a story guaranteed to tug at your heartstrings, Ne Zha and Ne Zha 2 are absolutely outstanding movies that are criminally underrated outside of China.

Ne Zha 2 follows Ne Zha (child: Lü Yanting; adolescent: Joseph Cao) and Ao Bing (Han Mo) after they’d both just been struck by lightning from the heavens in Chentang Pass, destroying both of their bodies. Taiyi Zhenren, Ne Zha’s master (Zhang Jiaming) uses up his Sacred Lotus in order to regenerate their bodies so that they may live, but the bodies are fragile. Ao Bing’s father Ao Guang (dragon form: Li Nan; human form: Yu Chen), the Dragon King of the East and the main leader out of the four dragon rulers, still believes his son to be dead and orders the dragons to attack Chentang Pass. Ao Bing is able to defend, showing that he is alive—but destroys his body in the process. Ao Guang, now knowing his son is alive, makes a ceasefire deal—Ao Bing’s spirit will share a body with Ne Zha for seven days, in which they will complete the three trials to become xian (immortal) and win an elixir as a prize that can restore the Sacred Lotus once again to recreate Ao Bing’s body. Once they return, Ao Guang’s forces will retreat.

Upon arriving at the heavenly Chan sect, they meet Wuliang (Wang Deshun)—the Immortal who has set the xian trials. However, it’s evident that they have a major problem—the trials ahead are missions commonly completed by the sect’s demon hunters. Ne Zha is demon in nature due to being the reincarnation of the Demon Orb, something that he cannot reveal under any circumstances as it could get them both killed. Ne Zha is unable to surrender control of his body to Ao Bing willingly, so as a workaround he takes sleeping pills so Ao Bing—the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl—can complete the trials for the both of them. Ao Bing is able to complete the first trials successfully, but before they set off on the third trial Ne Zha learns that Chentang Pass—and by extension, his parents—had been destroyed. What could have possibly happened in Chentang Pass during the two trials that caused the dragons to break the ceasefire deal?

The Ne Zha franchise is based off of Fengshen Yanyi, or The Investiture of the Gods—a 16th-century Chinese novel that combines many different elements of Chinese mythology, folklore, and religion together into one big story. While the roots of the story remain relatively the same, the tale the Ne Zha movies aim to tell is fairly different from the original work. In the source material, Ne Zha is actually the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl and there is no Demon Orb—although this does not stop him from being naive and destructive all the same, a direct parallel to his personality in the movies. The addition of the Demon Orb works very well in this franchise, as Ne Zha fights an uphill battle against his very nature to do good for the world.

There is a major plot twist—spoiler alert, Ao Guang isn’t to blame here—that isn’t too cliche and works just perfectly with the plot. The storyline is well thought-out, perfectly coherent and moving, unlike many animated sequels—showing the clear unadulterated passion that director Jiaozi put into this piece. This, combined with the absolutely stunning visuals throughout the movie, makes for an incredible movie on every front. I watched this film with my family and some family friends—a very, very wide range of ages, with most of us having grown up in the United States—and a good majority of us cried during it. It’s clear that any good story can be told in any medium—and as long as it has heart, it will reach any audience it wishes to reach.

If you’re into action and fantasy, Ne Zha is the franchise for you—you’ll love it, I promise. And if you’re not, go watch it anyway! It’s really just that good.

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