This weekend I had the pleasure of attending a screening for Ne Zha 2, a Chinese animated movie that has taken the box office by storm.

Finally arriving at our shores, I went into this film with dubious expectations.

My experiences of Chinese animation have often led me down a path of seeing the same material present in several pieces, an over-reliance on simulations, similar looking models and a rigidity towards more game-based design choices, reluctant to push the expressions necessary for feature film. Ne Zha 2 does not have these concerns.

As one cinema goer said to me as the credits rolled, “That was funnier than I thought it was going to be,” and honestly, that feeling runs through all aspects of the movie for me. The overall tale, based on a 16th century Chinese novel, is a story that I worried would be lost on a western audience, that and the fact that this is a sequel to a film that I have never seen. Ne Zha 2 does an excellent job of bringing in the audience and no prior knowledge of Chinese mythology or the first Ne Zha is required.

Sure, there are likely nuances and references that went over my head, but that wasn’t an issue in order to enjoy. Director Jiaozi’s Ne Zha 2 feels like a love letter to Chinese culture, a beautifully animated piece that is filled with both comedy and tragedy and well-rounded characters that feel real. Through its gorgeous score and deep character studies, we get to see our characters grow throughout this fantasy adventure. There’s a running theme of family and one’s relationship with ones parents as the titular Ne Zha and his enemy-turned-friend Ao Bing are force to share a celestial body after their mortal ones are destroyed, while also facing threats to Ne Zha’s homeland. Ne Zha provides true-to-life resonances wrapped up in a fantastical point of view. It is this empathetic accessibility that drives the narrative forward.

Moving towards the animation here, there is still a strong reliance on simulations, both in fluid and hair, yet it doesn’t feel out of place. The weight of each character movement, both action-based or in moments of contemplation, feel alive and believable. The poses are strong, the textures and backgrounds are gorgeously rendered and the lighting of each scene is masterfully crafted. The physical comedy is somewhat reminiscent of the old Looney Tunes cartoons. Nothing ever feels out of place or forced in terms of comedy. Each moment of laughter is well timed and written and couples nicely with the animation.

I have very little negativity towards this film, and I can see why it has gained such a following both domestically and internationally. The pacing is good, but at 144 minutes, the runtime may be a bit long for some, and there were times where I felt a bit tired. Understandably, adapting a piece of literature would take a longer runtime to do the piece justice, but there were moments where the plot felt stretched, perhaps a fault of the source material. Secondly, the twists and turns of the narrative that were meant to come as a form of shock value, including that of the main villain’s reveal, were obvious from the first interactions with those characters. It’s aimed mainly at children which may have been the reason for this simplicity of reveal. Yet overall the plot is still strong.

In conclusion, there isn’t much to fault in Ne Zha 2. If you are new to Chinese animation, then it is definitely worth seeing, especially as intended in its original language. It is a beautiful piece of work that I believe will put Chinese animation on the global map as it really does capture emotions and feelings that are present in any good animation. Don’t miss this adventure-filled romp.

Ne Zha 2 is currently screening in Irish cinemas

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