‘Ne Zha 2’ REVIEW: The perfect sequel
‘Ne Zha 2’ REVIEW: The perfect sequel
Ne Zha erupts in anger | Encore Films Philippines
The discussion of the greatest animated films has usually been dominated by Hollywood for a long time. If you ask an average Filipino audience what their favorite animated film is, the answer would probably be something from big animation studios such as Walt Disney Animation, Pixar, DreamWorks, or Illumination. Rarely do we hear of a film outside the Hollywood system being propelled into the collective psyche of moviegoers.
Sure, there are Ghibli fans who would go above and beyond to see Hayao Miyazaki’s anime on the big screen, but compared to the box-office turnouts that American films get, foreign animated films struggle to draw the same crowds. Putting that into perspective, Pixar’s so-and-so follow-up to a modern classic, Inside Out 2, earned $1.7 billion worldwide, making it the highest grossing animated film of all time at the time, while Miyazaki’s Oscar-winning The Boy and the Heron generated only a fifth of that.
Despite what everyone says about the declining quality of animated films from the top Hollywood dogs — how they rely too much on nostalgia and established IPs, how they haven’t innovated in their filmmaking for decades, and how they haven’t won any Oscars in the last three years — they’ve continued to greedily hog screens worldwide, now more than ever, in a desperate bid to recoup the ever-inflating costs of their productions. After all, there’s been no serious competition. But that changes now. And if these animation giants fail to step up, they might find themselves losing ground not only in the hearts of an audience looking for something new and fresh, but also in ticket sales — a battle they’ve already lost, as of writing this review.
Ao Bing in Ne Zha 2 | Encore Films Philippines
Enter Ne Zha 2 (哪吒之魔童闹海), the follow-up to 2019’s Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世), which sits cozily at fifth place among the highest-grossing films of all time, outgrossing every animated film ever made and earning a whopping $2 billion from domestic sales on a budget smaller than what it cost to make Inside Out 2. Though if there’s one thing that The Emoji Movie and the Super Mario Bros. animated adaptation starring Chris Pratt have taught us, it’s that huge profits do not always mean a good movie. Sometimes, even the most terrible animated film can thrive at the mercy of a cinema’s biggest rainmaker: families on a weekend trip to the mall.
The question that remains now is this: is there more to Ne Zha 2’s triumph than a killer marketing campaign and a prime holiday release in a country of nearly a billion and a half people? Does it deserve its flowers? Well, let’s just say that it doesn’t leave you guessing. When you watch the film, it’s abundantly clear why it has made such an impact.
But first, to understand Ne Zha 2’s success, it’s worth looking back at where it all started. Ne Zha also took the Chinese box office by storm, becoming the highest-grossing animated film in the country’s history at the time of its release. Rooted in Chinese mythology, it reimagines the story of Ne Zha (Lü Yanting), a misunderstood deity and the reincarnation of the Demon Orb born from the Chaos Pearl, prophesied to bring destruction to the world.
Raised by his human parents to believe he could rise above his fate, Ne Zha joined forces with the yin to his yang, Ao Bing (Han Mo), a dragon prince and the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl who was also born from the same source. Together, they fought to redefine their destiny, leading to a climactic showdown that destroyed their physical bodies, leaving only their spirits behind. It was a story that resonated deeply with audiences, and the film’s blend of slick animation, emotional depth, and modern humor struck the chord even further, turning it into a cultural phenomenon in China.
“Demons” of the abyss gearing for an attack | Encore Films Philippines
The follow-up picks up right where the first film left off, with Ne Zha and Ao Bing, along with Ne Zha’s master, Tai Yi Zhen Ren (Zhang Jiaming), setting out on a quest to rebuild and reshape their bodies while facing new challenges along the way. It builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor, aiming to recapture its magic while expanding the story. That bar set by was pretty high, but Ne Zha 2 doesn’t just meet expectations — it soars above them in nearly every way, raising the stakes with a level of ambition and craftsmanship that few 3D animated films can match.
Visually, the film is a never-ending spectacle. The animators have outdone themselves, crafting breathtaking vistas that push the boundaries of scale and imagination. From a palace made of pure jade to a heavenly sky swirling with colorful celestial bodies, a fiery inferno filled with lava and abyss-dwelling monsters, and a massive abandoned city submerged underwater, the film’s environments feel alive and immense.
The sense of scale is so well-realized that it’s easy to get lost in the sheer grandeur of it all. I’m in awe of how much the animators cooked — and how they just kept cooking until the very end. At some point, my mind went numb, not because the story grew tedious, but because the godlike animation and breathtaking imagery became the norm, leaving the film on a plateau of constant highs. Yes, the animation was so good that I got overwhelmed.
The action scenes have also seen a significant upgrade. While the first film’s battles were impressive, the sequel takes them to another level with heightened kinetic energy and intricate choreography. The fight sequences are electric, blending fluid animation with precise, balletic movements that pulse with raw power. It’s rare for a film to sustain such high-octane action without feeling repetitive, but Ne Zha 2 somehow manages to maintain its momentum all the way through.
Ne Zha ascending to immortality | Encore Films Philippines
Narratively, the film’s deeper dive into its mythological roots could have been a hurdle for audiences unfamiliar with Chinese mythology or the Investiture of the Gods. But, it strikes a careful balance, offering enough context to keep our attention without overwhelming us with exposition and mythological jargons. Even if some details escape you, the visual storytelling ensures you’re never truly lost.
And more impressively, the film tackles themes that most Hollywood animated films wouldn’t dare touch, lest they incur the wrath of conservatives with too much time on their hands. The story grapples with racism and the need to dismantle oppressive systems through a revolution all within the framework of a high-stakes fantasy. In a time when the exploitation of the working class, who often look physically different from the elite, is rampant, perhaps this is the lesson our children need: to be wary of “gods” pretending to be righteous, to never bow to oppressors, and to walk a path on their own terms, not others.
It’s ironic that an animated film from China, which is often accused of racism (not that they’re really innocent of it) by American exceptionalists, feels more progressive and socially conscious than your typical military-fetishizing Hollywood blockbuster.
In every aspect — animation, action, narrative depth, and thematic resonance — Ne Zha 2 stands as a triumph. It’s that rare and perfect sequel that doesn’t just build on its predecessor but transcends it, solidifying China’s place as a new powerhouse in animated cinema. Hollywood, beware: the competition has arrived.
