Ne Zha 2: groundbreaking success shaping new era for Chinese film industry

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

By Zuo Heng

This year marks the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema and the 130th anniversary of world cinema. The robust performance of "Ne Zha 2" has boosted confidence within the global film industry, reaffirming the enduring vitality of film as an art form and providing valuable insights into Chinese filmmaking.

"Ne Zha 2" signals the arrival of a new chapter for the Chinese animation school.

In the past century, Chinese animation, represented by the iconic works of Shanghai Animation Film Studio, captivated Chinese audiences and gained international recognition. However, the creation and production models in that era failed to keep up with the development of modern cinema and struggled to fulfill audience expectations, leading to a period of stagnation after its golden age.

Today, with the deepening reforms in China's film industry, coupled with economic and technological advancements, a thriving cultural market, and a growing pool of talent, the Chinese animation industry has gained fresh momentum. A new generation of passionate filmmakers and innovative studios has come to prominence, warmly welcomed by the massive community of Chinese animation audiences.

"Ne Zha 2" highlights the profound depth and richness of Chinese cultural heritage.

The film draws inspiration from China's Bronze Age, taking viewers back to ancient Chinese history - such as a pair of mystical "boundary guardian beasts" inspired by the golden masks excavated from the Sanxingdui Ruins, the magnificent Tianyuan Cauldron that finds inspiration in the bronze cauldrons of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (1600 B.C.-256 B.C.), and the intricate bronze mirror patterns found on the desk of Shiji Niangniang, or Lady Rocky.

The story's core premise, where a Chaos Pearl birthed from primordial essences splits into two opposite components - the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Orb, echoes the Taoist allegory from the ancient Chinese classics Zhuangzi, in which the legendary faceless being Hundun perishes after being forcibly carved open. The climactic battle between the celestial realm and demon clans also continued the theme of self-discovery from "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King," a classic Chinese animated fantasy film released in 1979.

The film's intricate plotlines, fusion of beauty and grotesqueness in character design, and the balance between solemnity and humor all bear traces of the narrative styles of zaju, a unique dramatic genre of China's Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and popular fictions in China's Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). It revitalizes China's long-standing aesthetic traditions, blending innovation with cultural heritage to captivate modern audiences.

At the same time, "Ne Zha 2" also reflects subtle influences from Western animation and Japanese anime. Since modern times, Western cultural elements have found their way into China and have been adapted in ways that contribute to the development of contemporary Chinese culture. This process of integration is, in itself, a fascinating cultural story of Chinese modernization.

The success of "Ne Zha 2" also marks the advent of a new generation of filmmakers in China.

The new generation of Chinese cultural and artistic workers boasts a unique strength - a deeper understanding of Chinese society and their personal lives, which they transform into fresh artistic expressions. Many young audiences have felt a powerful bond and emotional resonance with "Ne Zha 2." This reinforces an important truth: no matter how fantastical, a mythological story must be grounded in reality and genuine emotion to truly connect with audiences.

Besides, these new-generation filmmakers are actively exploring cross-disciplinary artistic practices, media integration, technological advancements, and cultural exchanges - paving the way for a more innovative future in filmmaking.

In "Ne Zha 2," the stunning battle between Ne Zha and marmots, and the breathtaking particle effects inspired by traditional Chinese ink painting, were made possible with the collaboration of multiple Chinese studios. Original Force, a leading Chinese company in digital content production, even delayed its own projects to prioritize the production of the film.

The belief that "unity is strength" is becoming a widespread consensus in China's film industry, with individual creators, studios, and companies all moving from isolation to collaboration, building ecosystems of shared resources and common development.

"Ne Zha 2" tells an incredible story, but its creation and success is a great story in itself. It is a testament to the creative team - individuals bursting with imagination and talent, and more broadly, to the collective force of China's animation, film, and technological sectors, which are driving a greater cultural advancement in China.

(Zuo Heng is the director of the cinematic culture research department at the China Film Archive.)