Plot Summary: Born as a demon orb reincarnation instead of a spirit pearl, Ne Zha is destined to bring destruction to the world. Despite the heavenly gods' decree, his parents refuse to kill him and instead raise him with love while hiding the truth about his origin. As Ne Zha grows up ostracized by his community, he must choose whether to accept his demonic fate or fight to forge his own destiny.
Director: Jiaozi
Screenplay: Jiaozi
Story by: Yi Qiao, Wei Yunyun
Based on: Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin
Music: Wan Pin Chu
Produced by: Wei Yunyun, Liu Wenzhang
Starring:
LΓΌ Yanting as Ne Zha
Joseph Cao as Ao Bing
Han Mo as Li Jing
Chen Hao as Taiyi Zhenren
LΓΌ Qi as Lady Yin
Zhang Jiaming as Shen Gongbao
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
Ancient Gods and Modern Jokes
I had some time to watch a movie with my daughter today, so I decided to keep up with my Chinese film journey. What better choice than the highest-grossing animated film of its time, Ne Zha? I think I was the only person left who hadn't seen it, especially with its sequel now breaking worldwide records. The most fascinating thing for me, right off the bat, is that the movie is loosely based on a 16th-century novel called Investiture of the Gods. I came into this knowing nothing, and now I'm obsessed with the wild imagination of these 16th-century authors—so much magic and epic, random stuff happening all the time. The film does a great job of keeping the story simple despite all the god and demon shenanigans. However, I did feel it was trying a bit too hard to copy the American Pixar/Dreamworks comedy style at times. A prime example is "the screaming lady man," who was easily my least favorite character. But then, just when you think it's getting too generic, you get moments that are unmistakably Chinese—like kids peeing on a pond for revenge or, GOD PROTECT OUR CHILDREN: actual blood! I loved that.
Check out the clip below to see Ne Zha tormenting the villagers, featuring that very loud, screaming man I mentioned.
Eye-Popping Fights and a Dragon's Curse
Leaving the fascinating history behind, let's talk about the animation itself. I honestly wouldn't be able to distinguish it from the top studios I mentioned earlier. It's amazing and will make your eyes pop, but it doesn't really innovate or bring anything fresh to the table. The character of Ne Zha is cool, and my favorite moment was his first meeting with Ao Bing. I laughed out loud at the speed with which Ne Zha storms into aggression, leaving no room for words. The creature he was chasing was also awesome, with its bubble magic and shapeshifting abilities. But the backstory of the dragons? That's a tremendous story on its own. It's so unfair! They cleared the world of monsters, and now they're imprisoned to keep the remaining ones locked up. Those heavenly gods are kind of jerks. I'm calling it now: for the sequel, I want the dragons to cut loose, destroy everything, and claim their thrones in the skies! Yes, that means I will definitely be watching the sequel.
You can see the incredible animation in action in the clip below, featuring the fight between Ne Zha, Ao Bing, and the bubble-blowing monster.
A Father's Love and a Final Verdict
My seven-year-old daughter and I watched this in English since she's still getting the hang of subtitles. I would have enjoyed it more in its original language, but that's life with kids. I don't think she understood much, even with me explaining things, as the movie is a bit complex for her age. Still, the powerful messages of sacrifice and taking responsibility for your destiny, even when the gods are against you, are things I want her to see. This is definitely a movie to have on Blu-ray on our shelf for a future rewatch. For me, the film's mythological context makes for a more complex and refreshing story, but the need to appeal to an international audience makes it feel a little banal at times. The director, Jiaozi, and his team probably don't care about my stupid thoughts, since it was the highest-grossing film in China at the time. So I'll shut my mouth and say this: if you haven't watched it (which I doubt), it's really worth a watch. It's not mind-blowing... I'm just saying... I prefer Moana.
The clip below shows the powerful moment when Ne Zha discovers the sacrifice his father was willing to make for him.
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The Wandering Earth (2019)
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Moana (2016)
Another animated tale about defying destiny with mythological elements and stunning visuals
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