Ne Zha II Review: Cultural Leap Forward

Ne Zha II shows the finest aspects of a lesser known film culture with the perfect balance of style and emotion to modernize a classic myth.

The story of Ne Zha II is part two of an adaptation of a classic Chinese myth. The original Ne Zha chronicled the birth of the demon kid Ne Zha (Griffin Puatu), trying to seek acceptance and become the hero in a world quick to label him as a villain. He is born of the Demon Orb, while his opposing force Ao Bing (Aleks Le) is born of the Spirit Pearl. After regenerating their bodies from a storm in the last movie, the pair set off on an adventure. However, Ao Bing’s father Ao Guang (Christopher Swindle) thwarts their plans and destroys Ao Bing’s physical form. To get him back, Ne Zha must break his own demon curse and achieve immortality, making a deal with the sneaky Master Wulian (William Utay) to pass three trials, all while carrying Ao Bing’s spirit in his body.  

A major selling point of Ne Zha II is the spellbinding visuals. In terms of filmmaking, animation is almost like a magic show, able to capture ideas and visuals live-action cannot. The fight direction of the battle scenes and complex poses of the main characters are intricate and detailed. Special attention is given to the characters to reflect their personalities. Ne Zha is shown as ugly, but still looks just human enough to be sympathetic. Other characters are also of many shapes and sizes, leading to a diverse cast in gorgeous computer animation. The generation who grew up watching Kung Fu Panda and Dragon Ball is now making their own films, and raising the bar in terms of spectacle. Some of the dubbing seems a bit off, as the lip reading is always going to be incorrect. However, this does not detract from the sound and lights show on display throughout the film.

Ne Zha II is far from “style over substance”. Beneath all the sound and lights is a story of redemption and of the pursuit of goals in an uncertain world. Ne Zha is born to be a demon, but must rewrite the script and become a hero instead. His parents Li Jing (Vincent Rodriguez) and Lady Yin (Michelle Yeoh, Everything Everywhere All At Once) are a moral guide, serving as motivators for the demon child as he seeks to do good. When Ne Zha is reintroduced to them, the audience has time to learn of his relationship and mourn them when they are separated, which makes his atonement quest all the more special. 

The movie takes a while to get started, but once it gets going, it is worth it. It needs time to breathe and reintroduce the characters, so the payoff feels more rewarding. The explosions and chaos of the climax are not to be missed, as it feels like a culmination for the arc of a special child and a fireworks show for a job well done. This story makes your heart soar and your mind rejoice as it reminds us all what animation can do. Some of the angles and shot compositions are so detailed and complex, no live-action shots could ever hope to replicate them. Ne Zha II shows why some stories work best animated. For those who have not seen the first film, there is a quick five minute recap at the start. It does benefit to know the first part of the story, but all the action can be appreciated by anyone watching. 

The best time to see Ne Zha II was during its initial theatrical run. The second best time is now. It is a bold leap forward for the Asian animation industry and a bold offering for their culture. This story has a little something for everyone, making it a great movie to show for someone curious about Chinese mythology and has great animation and writing to go along with it.

Ne Zha II is now available to watch in US theatres.