A little fellow who is as ugly at first glance as he becomes endearing through his adventures is changing the course of history. The animated film Ne Zha 2, based on a character from Ming dynasty literature, is a box-office smash in China. Released on January 29, it is breaking new records by the day: 160 million admissions have already been sold. In less than two weeks, it has already racked up the highest box-office takings in the history of Chinese cinema, becoming the first film to gross more than $1 billion in a single market, and the first non-Hollywood film to break the $1 billion barrier (behind more than 30 American productions).
Nezha is the name of a character who is half-boy and half-deity, inspired by the 16th century epic Investiture of the Gods. In the first animated version, released in 2019, the demonic child with supernatural powers was condemned by the manipulation of the gods to live only three years, but he took control of his destiny to become a caring hero. The film had already attracted audiences, but the sequel to the young man's adventures with his martial arts stick, released on Chinese screens at the very start of the Lunar New Year vacations, was an unprecedented success. This time, Nezha must face the dragons of the East China Sea, who threaten an entire innocent community.
And it is not just the village of Chentang that this little character is counting on. With Nezha, the entire Chinese film industry is gaining confidence, much to the satisfaction of the authorities. Cinema attendance is seen as a barometer of the propensity to consume, and this film proves salutary at a time when Beijing wants to show that Chinese economy is regaining momentum.
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