NeZha2reflectsriseofChineseanimation

ThesequeltotheblockbusterChineseanimationfilm,NeZha,wasreleasedonChineseNewYearsday,thatis,Jan29.ItseemsthegeneralaudiencecantgetenoughofNeZha:DemonChildConquerstheSea(NeZha2),asmanyofthemhavereturnedtothetheaterasecond,andevenathird,time.Itstotalboxofficerevenueof5.8billionyuan($796million)hassurpassedTheBattleatLakeChangjin,rankingfirstontheall-timeChineseboxofficechart,accordingtoonlineplatformdata.

LikemanyotherChinesemovies,NeZha2isalsobasedonaChinesemythologicalfigure—protectivedeityNeZha.Thefilmsscriptisbasedonapopular17thcenturyChinesenovel,TheInvestitureoftheGods,whichisoneofthefirstmajorliteraryworkstofeaturedeitiesanddemonsinTaoismandBuddhism.

HowcomefilmsbasedonChinesemythologyhavebecomemassivehitsattheboxoffice?

NeZha2symbolizesrebellion.TheimageofNeZhahasbeenmodifiedfromthetraditionaltragicheroreturningtohisfathertoamodernrebelwhochangeshisdestinyagainstGodswill,whichisinlinewiththespiritualaspirationsoftodaysyouthsandtheirdeterminationtofightagainstlabelingandpursuetheirgoals.Thiskindofmodificationbreaksthecharacterssacrednessmyth,enablingittoresonatewiththeaudience.

Thefilmisafusionofculturalsymbols.Itcombinespunkstyle,moderncolloquialism,memesandotherelementssuchastheSichuan-styleMandarinaccentofMasterTaiyiwhoisthetutorofNeZha.Thispracticegraftstraditionalculturalsymbolswithpopularculture,makingthefilmappealingtotheaudience.Atthesametime,itfostersauniqueculturalidentity.

NeZha2isagreatinnovationinvisualaesthetics.ThemoviedrivesGenNextinternetofthingswith5Gandsmarttechnology,withfascinatinglyinnovativeartdirection,especiallythemistylandscape,whichenhancestheexperienceofgoingtothetheater.