'Ne Zha II' Review: China's Record-Breaking Animated Sequel is a Fiery, Radical Visual Spectacle
Earlier this year, a Chinese-made animated movie called Ne Zha II decimated Pixar’s Inside Out 2 to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time. I only knew of the hot-headed mythological character in passing (via scrolling through Netflix). But the way it rapidly racked up the big bucks overseas, being the first animated movie to even hit two billion and sitting in the top ten highest-grossing movies of all time, right on Titanic’s ass, compelled me to investigate. So, I saw the film. Although this review arrives in time for the English-dubbed A24 (I’M STILL SHOCKED THEY EVEN ACQUIRED THIS) release, I have already seen the original language version three times. To paraphrase Han Solo in The Force Awakens: “It’s true, the action and the animation. All of it. It’s all true.” Beyond being one of the best sequels I’ve ever seen, and the action direction being the pinnacle of CG animation, the radicalism in its message kept me coming back for more.
Image copyright (©) Courtesy of A24
MPA Rating: NR
Runtime: 2 Hours and 24 Minutes
Production Companies: Chengdu Coco Cartoon, Beijing Enlight Media, Beijing Enlight Pictures, Chengdu Zizai Jingjie Culture Media, Beijing Coloroom Technology
Distributor: A24
Director: Jiao Zi
Writer: Jiao Zi
Cast: Crystal Lee, Griffin Puatu, Aleks Le, Michelle Yeoh, Vincent Rodriguez, Rick Zeiff, Damien Haas, Christopher Swindle, Daniel Riordan
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Set immediately after the predecessor, the comical Master Taiyi Zhenren (Rick Zieff) resurrects the spirits of the demon orb child reincarnation, Ne Zha (Crystal Lee), and the spirit pearl reincarnation teen Ao Bing (Aleks Le) via the Sacred Lotus. Ao Bing's master, Lord Shen Gongbao (Daniel Riordan), attacks Ne Zha's home of Chentang Pass. Ao Bing uses his full power to defend the land from Gongbao's forces, ailing his newly formed body. Ne Zha makes a deal with Ao Bing's father/Dragon King of the East Sea, Ao Guang (Christopher Swindle), to restore the Sacred Lotus and fix his physical form in seven days and leave Chentang Pass alone. Until then, Ao Bing’s spirit must be shared in Ne Zha's body. Taiyi takes Ne Zha and Ao Bing to Wuliang, the leader of the heavenly Chan sect, where they must complete three trials to obtain an elixir that’ll make the Sacred Lotus sprout and also make Ne Zha immortal. But soon, Ne Zha and Ao Bing must reckon with an unimaginable evil that tests their sense of selves and worldview.
An Action Spectacle Like No Other
I did myself a disservice by watching the Ne Zha sequel first and then watching the predecessor. Do not be like me or any other stupid American who’ll be going into this film blind. You'll be dazzled but also lost as hell, overwhelmed, overstimulated, and unsure of what's going on or who any of the characters are. It's available for free on YouTube as of this writing.
With that said, the predecessor is a solid, family-friendly action film that modernizes the Chinese mythological legend in an entertaining, albeit generic, manner. It featured several creative action sequences. However, you could tell some corners were cut for budget purposes, especially since most of the story took place in Chentang Pass. Even though the plot and humor were fairly middling, Ne Zha himself was fine-tuned as a rambunctious, rebellious scamp with a heart of gold. It was a good meditation on identity and rebelling against foretold destiny. Now, if Ne Zha was like a Happy Meal, Ne Zha II is a four-course buffet from a Michelin restaurant.
Yu Yang, who often works under the name of Jiao Zi, the returning writer-director, surpasses the requirements of a good sequel by elevating all aspects of its plot, characters, action sequences, and stakes to a level that is astoundingly superior to both the original and that rivals current 3D animation.
Despite my never-ending love for Spider-Verse, I must admit that Zi and the 4,000 animators from 138 Chinese animation studios who collaborated on this project significantly exceeded the boundaries of what a high-end spectacle a CG action animated film can be. Not in terms of detail in particle effects and feature texture, but in terms of a boundless scope on a Peter Jackson and James Cameron level that mesmerizes with each action set piece, each more thrilling than the last.
Zi's meticulous attention to action detail is at an all-time high, as he allows these Chinese mythological characters to utilize abilities in battles that resemble something straight out of The Raid or Dragon Ball Z. Similar to the predecessor, Ne Zha II’s fight scenes make excellent use of humor and creative action, but as the tone and circumstances become more serialized, the action becomes more intense and thrilling, keeping you on edge throughout.
The Flames of Ne Zha II's First Act Take A While to Ignite
In its first act, Zi recaptures the original's tone. Within its drawn-out first thirty minutes or so, the silly gross-out body humor is rampant. The sequel is better equipped, as some comical pee gags made me laugh. However, once the adventure stops being funny, with what might be the darkest turn in the second act of an animated movie yet, its intensity remains consistently in tandem with better humor.
Ne Zha Levels Up in Development
The scenario in which Ne Zha and Ao Bing are compelled to share a body allows for a more nuanced expansion of the titular lead's identity crisis than the previous installment. This boy has always struggled with his demon identity. A recurring theme in the predecessor's story is his inability to manage his insane powers, which undermines his confidence and self-worth. In this sequel, Ne Zha has to take sleeping pills that allow Ao Bing to take control of his body. He does this as a joke at first, but as his innermost fears bubble, it becomes a coping mechanism due to a lack of self-value, robbing him of life-changing moments. Ne Zha's arc is not a rehash; rather, it’s a multifaceted development of his character. Yes, he's a reckless scamp who runs hot-tempered, but you feel the weight of every emotion he faces throughout the epic adventure he embarks on.
The film's MVP is Shen Gongbao. Despite feeling like a mediocre antagonist, Jiao Zi rigorously develops this character through a subplot that establishes his familial ties. The man remains in Chentang Pass for the majority of the film, as he is responsible for its monitoring until the boys return with the elixir. However, the extensive examination of his motivations and actions, which are later put to the test, subverts any expectations and leaves you astounded. I haven't seen a character transition from a vicious, cunning antagonist to a sympathetic, caring person since Diego from the first Ice Age. He rules.
Ne Zha II Is the Movie We Deserve Right Now
I truly don't want to give too much away about the film, but hear me when I say this is the animated movie we need right now. Zi exhibits the same fiery passion as Ne Zha, channeling the bold, thematic sophistication of early Pixar and beyond to create a modern classic that radicalizes your soul and takes you by surprise. Ne Zha II's sub release dropped the same weekend as Captain America: Brave New World, one of my most disliked movies of 2025, because of its pro-militant themes and hollow story arriving at the same time as our current authoritarian regime weaponizing religion against marginalized communities.
You can easily see what I'm getting at. This is about the younger generation facing an evil (conservative) power that preys on marginalized communities. The way zealots militarize their religious beliefs to act on their self-righteousness and how it intertwines with the duo's arc, challenging their worldview as they come to terms and accept their respective identities, contributes to a radicalizing climax.
Final Statement
Ne Zha II arrives like a beaming light we need right now in the darkness. Yes, the action is phenomenal, but so is the radical message at its core. I’m four viewings deep, and it’s still the best animated movie of 2025. It rules. See it in 3D and subtitled!
For full access to all articles on the website and member-only content, such as the complete archive and the Award Artisan Interview Series, sign up for a Rendy Reviews membership.
