Ne Zha 2 (2025)
After Ne Zha and Aobing are resurrected, they risk their lives save an entire city and put a stop to an evil with overwhelming power.
Rating: Not Rated
Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes
Language: Mandarin, English
Director: Yu Yang
Writers: Xixing Lu. Zhonglin Xu, Yu Yang
Stars:
Mandarin: Yanting Lü, Joseph, Mo Han
English: Crystal Lee, Alex Le
Action has never been animated so beautifully, nor has it been executed at such a massive scale. While the story maintains a similar level of quality as the first Ne Zha, everything else has been cranked up to an entirely unprecedented level that animation films have never seen. Making Ne Zha 2 a must-see in theaters!
The Story
At the end of the first film, Ne Zha and Aobing lost their bodies. After a hilarious intro on how they’re returned to human form, their resurrection is partially interrupted and Aobing is unable to complete his return.
Unfortunately, Aobing’s father has choice words, and Ne Zha’s hometown is soon held ransom for the return of Aobing’s body. Despite how dark this may seem, the filmmakers make this situation feel lighthearted and comedic. As Aobing and Ne Zha must share one body. Setting out to visit a palace of immortals.
To join the immortals in their palace, Ne Zha must past their tests. But with such overconfidence and equal parts insecurity, Aobing steps in to ensure they pass the tests by swapping bodily control. As they wrangle demons and return them to the palace for rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, back in Ne Zha’s hometown, evil forces coordinate plans that place the town at risk. Unable to act alone, their plotting brings in an unknown enemy that everyone on the side of good will eventually learn.
As the forces of evil gain ground, Ne Zha worries that all may be lost. Angering the demon inside him and exposing his body to high levels of demonic power.
Will Ne Zha be able to control his demonic powers, and stop evil in their tracks?
The Power of Family & Friends
The idea of losing someone you love brings unbearable amounts of pain. When Ne Zha’s parents lose their son, the entire town pours all of their energy (albeit humorously) to restore his physical form. Being honorable parents, they also restore Aobing, Ne Zha’s only friend. Demonstrating a level of love and honor we all should strive to be.
However, love can lead to fear and painful loss. While Ne Zha’s parents embody love and honor, there’s another that has taken the dark path to their loss. Misery loves company, but sorrow can demand death and destruction. Pitting these two ideologies against each other leads to some interesting twists and assumptions that makes the story pop in ways that few family films do.
Action on a Massive Scale
While films like Akira (1988) and Belle (2021) represent some of the most visually gorgeous 2D and 3D animated films, Ne Zha 2 is a masterful work by an amazingly talented team. Colorful, well-crafted, beautifully animated, and filled with fine everywhere. To say Ne Zha 2 is a visual feast feels like an understatement to the testament of its craft.
There are many great scenes across the nearly 2 and a half hours, but a few scenes create a sense of awe and scale that animated films have never seen before. Massive explosions, large scale fighting, and battles across heaven and earth.
With a meticulous attention to detail, brilliant imagination, and a Chinese folklore backdrop, the team behind Ne Zha 2 have crafted a gem from start to finish. Blending humor, action, family, friendship, and morality into one huge blockbosuter hit.
Inside of All of Us Lives Good
Even in the darkest of times, there’s always a place to find the good and fun in life. When it comes to fun, Ne Zha 2 is an absolute blast from start to finish, and culminates in one of the largest battles put to film.
With such beautiful animation and action on such a large scale, Ne Zha 2 is a must-see theater experience. Catch in theatres while you can!