Commentary: Technology empowers Ne Zha, enabling Chinese culture to resonate with the world

Shattering multiple box-office records, the Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" has become the first non-Hollywood film to join the coveted billion-dollar club. As of February 13, its total revenue (including pre-sales) has surpassed 10 billion yuan (about $1.37 billion US dollars). The spectacular moment "Ne Zha 2" surpassed the 10-billion-yuan mark was jointly witnessed online as numerous news media and movie-related social media accounts livestreamed the event.

Its remarkable box-office success is expected to continue. Industry insiders predict that its final total box-office revenue could reach 15 billion yuan (about $2 billion). If the prediction comes true, "Ne Zha 2" will not only top the list of the highest-grossing animated films globally but also rank among the top five of the world’s all-time box-office rankings, second only to "Titanic" and on a par with "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," according to IMDB data.

With its excellent production values, enhanced by visual aesthetics and empowered by new technology, the feature-length animation brings to life mythology with distinctive cultural characteristics. Its popularity is a testament to the enduring charm and vitality of Chinese culture and marks the rise of China's animated film industry.

Infusing new values into an ancient story

The household name of Ne Zha is a rebellious and tragic figure in Chinese mythology. Possessing tremendous energy, he bravely slew an evil dragon and its son to bring peace to the sea, but this brought trouble to him and his family. To spare his parents from misfortune and resolve the enmity, he committed suicide.

Breaking free from the constraints of the framework of ancient mythology while retaining its core elements, the new animation placed great responsibility on Ne Zha's shoulders, innovatively transforming him into a superhero who dares to "change his destiny against God's will," reflecting the aspirations of today's young viewers to fight against stereotypes and prejudice.

The concept of family and love is a timeless emotional bond that runs through ancient mythology and modern-day movies. The kinship expressed in the film strikes a chord with audiences worldwide, compelling the plot to touch the hearts of audiences from different cultural backgrounds.

The love expressed between the parents and their son, the sense of social responsibility, and the patriotic sentiment also carry a profound contemporary significance.

The film unfolds around three core characters: Ne Zha, Ao Bing and Shen Gongbao. With the family bond as the cornerstone, the cast of characters has been meticulously crafted. Through their intertwined relationships, intense conflicts emerge articulately.

Particularly worth mentioning is the film's successful portrayal of female characters, showing their independence and strength. Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin, is entrusted with the mission of a military general, wearing armor and holding a sharp blade. This breaks away from the traditional stereotype of ancient Chinese women dependent on the power of their husbands and fathers. Lady Rocky is no longer portrayed as an alluring, pointy-faced, slender-waisted woman. Instead, her image is inspired by the true form of a stone mountain, with both her robust figure and personality demonstrating the grandeur and firmness of mountains and stones.

The conflicts and reconciliations between humans and demons, as well as the devotion and sacrifice within the context of individuals and groups, are presented through a complex and all-encompassing narrative. The audience witnesses vivid, flesh-and-blood characters who are living examples of Chinese culture and ideas.

On a par with Hollywood

"Ne Zha 2" is a technological masterpiece. Behind its soaring popularity lies a comprehensive upgrade of China's animation industry chain, signifying that Chinese animation has bid adieu to the era of merely emulating Hollywood once and for all.

From the long list of credited companies at the film's conclusion, it's easy to get a sense of the scale of the number of companies involved. According to media reports, more than 100 companies with some 4,000 employees took part in the production.

The operations were further expanded into detailed collaborations in countless sub-segments with numerous smaller studios. These subdivided industrial operations not only demonstrate the gradual maturity of China's animated film industry and offer steady support for future high-quality works, but also match the scale and mass-production capacity of Hollywood animation studios.

"Technology + Culture" has become the dualdriving mode of Chinese animation. This is not only based on the rapid technological development of China, such as cloud computing and AI, but is also manifested in the creators' in-depth exploration and innovative adaptation of Chinese culture and its classic works.

High-end special effects make Ne Zha's weapons like fenghuolun, or wind fire wheels, spin like no other, allowing the audience to truly experience the fantasy of Chinese mythology.

Looking back on the then record breaking animation "Monkey King: Hero Is Back" in 2015, "Ne Zha 2" has achieved more than a ten-fold increase in just ten years.

In 2019, the first film in the franchise, "Ne Zha," broke the box office record for a domestic animation, grossing over $725 million, and "Ne Zha 2" has doubled this revenue in just five years. The data provides strong evidence that the Chinese animation industry has entered a golden period of rapid development.

Towards cultural resonance

Other than the "Ne Zha" franchise, China has made remarkable breakthroughs in the gaming field. In 2024, the Chinese 3A game "Black Myth: Wukong" won global recognition and was nominated for the TGA Game of the Year. It also won the Best Action Game and the Player's Voice Awards.

To date, the game has received more than 1 million reviews from gamers on Steam, with a 96 percent positive rating. Aspects such as production standards, visual presentation, and impact of the game have all ranked among the top.

Meanwhile, social platforms such as TikTok and RedNote (Xiaohongshu) are building bridges of communication across the globe. Since January, RedNote has quickly risen to the top of app store download charts in regions such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Responding to the demands of global users, RedNote launched its translation function within a week, facilitating direct communication between Chinese and international users.

During the Spring Festival, a large number of international users participated in Spring Festival celebrations and discussions about the Spring Festival Gala, joining the online carnival with the Chinese users on RedNote. In particular, a video of robots performing the Yangko dance attracted a large number of international users, who praised China's application of new technology.

From the unilateral "telling of Chinese stories" to the greater "cultural resonance" ignited by "Ne Zha" and "Wukong," Chinese cultural products are harnessing the power of technology to extend their reach to every nook and cranny of the globe.

In the days ahead, a profusion of remarkable works will likely emerge. They will reveal the profound depth and richness of traditional Chinese culture to the world through diverse means. Acting as catalysts for cultural resonance, these works will enable more people around the world to connect with the stories, values, and emotions of Chinese culture.

This cultural resonance will not only enhance the global standing of Chinese culture but also foster the harmonious integration among diverse cultures, ultimately enriching the global cultural tapestry.