Ne Zha (2019 film)#Future
{{Short description|2019 Chinese animated fantasy adventure film by Jiaozi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Ne Zha (哪吒）
| image = Nezha film poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none
| c = {{linktext|lang=zh|哪吒|之|魔|童|降世}}
| p = {{lang|zh-Latn-pinyin|Nézhā zhī Mó tóng Jiàngshì}}
| l = Nezha: The Demon Boy Descends to Earth
}}
| director = Jiaozi
| producer = {{plainlist|
- Wei Yunyun
- Liu Wenzhang{{Cite web|url=https://movie.douban.com/subject/26794435/celebrities|language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:哪吒之魔童降世 的全部演职员|website=movie.douban.com}}
}}
| screenplay = Jiaozi
| story = {{plainlist|
}}
| based_on = {{Based on|Investiture of the Gods|Xu Zhonglin}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| narrator =
| cinematography =
| editing =
| studio = Chengdu Coco Cartoon
| distributor = Beijing Enlight Pictures
| released = {{Film date|df=y|2019|07|11|Beijing|ref1={{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt10627720/releaseinfo|title=Ne Zha (2019) - IMDb|website=imdb.com}}|2019|07|13|IMAX, CFGS|ref2=|2019|07|26|China|ref3=}}
| budget = {{US$|22 million|long=no}}"AiF"{{cite web|url= https://animationisfilm.com/film/ne-zha/ |title=Animation is Film |access-date=2020-03-31}}
| gross = {{US$|742.7 million|long=no}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Ne-Zha-Zhi-Mo-Tong-Xiang-Shi-(China)|title=Ne Zha Zhi Mo Tong Xiang Shi (2019) - Financial Information|website=The Numbers|access-date=2019-09-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=nezha.htm|title=Ne Zha (2019) - International Box Office Results - Box Office Mojo|website=boxofficemojo.com|access-date=2019-09-18}}
}}
Ne Zha ({{zh|c=哪吒之魔童降世{{Cite web|url=https://movie.douban.com/subject/26794435/|language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:哪吒之魔童降世 (豆瓣)|website=movie.douban.com}}|p=Nézhā zhī Mótóng Jiàngshì}}), also spelled Nezha,{{efn|The title is romanized as Ne Zha on the film's title card but as "Nezha" in the official English subtitles when referring to the character, and also on the U.S. poster and in the U.S. trailer.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daoCb8oDf1k|title=NE ZHA (2019) Official Trailer | Epic Animated Chinese Movie|website=youtube.com}} is a 2019 Chinese animated fantasy adventure film directed and written by Jiaozi. Its animation production is done by the director's own Chengdu Coco Cartoon.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/features/nezha-breaks-chinese-animation-bo-records/|title='Nezha' Breaks Chinese Animation BO Records|first=Mercedes|last=Milligan|date=30 July 2019}} Featuring the popular Chinese mythological character Nezha, the plot is loosely based on the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin.{{cite news |first=Phoebe |last=Zhang |title=Chinese animated legend Nezha makes box office history, roaring past The Lion King |url=https://sg.news.yahoo.com/chinese-animated-legend-nezha-makes-104105954.html |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=Yahoo |date=4 August 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_3955593|script-title=zh:《哪吒之魔童降世》：这部国产动画，值得“吹”|publisher=thepaper|access-date=2019-07-20|language=zh}} In the film, a young boy, Ne Zha, is born from a heavenly pearl by the Primeval Lord of Heaven, Yuanshi Tianzun. Born with unique powers, he finds himself as an outcast who is hated and feared. Destined by prophecy to bring destruction to the world, the young lad must choose between good and evil in order to break the shackles of fate and become the hero.
Ne Zha was released in China exclusively in IMAX and China Film Giant Screen theatres{{Cite web |url=http://movie.mtime.com/251525 |title=哪吒之魔童降世 Ne Zha(2019) |access-date=26 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825183326/http://movie.mtime.com/251525/ |archive-date=25 August 2019 |url-status=dead }} on 13 July 2019, followed by other theatres on 26 July, distributed by Beijing Enlight Pictures. It is the first Chinese-produced animated feature released in IMAX format,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/91-5-million-debut-of-nezha-crushes-animation-records-in-china-177627.html|title=$91.5 Million Debut Of 'Nezha' Crushes Animation Records In China|date=29 July 2019|website=Cartoon Brew}} and, despite being the debut feature of its director and animation studio and having no widely known actors in its voice cast, the film gained critical acclaim and has been one of the biggest commercial successes in Chinese cinema, setting numerous records for box office grosses, including becoming the highest-grossing animated film in China,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/nezha-overtakes-zootopia-sets-all-time-highest-grossing-chinese-animation-record-177757.html|title='Nezha' Overtakes 'Zootopia,' Sets All-Time Highest-Grossing Chinese Animation Record|date=2 August 2019|website=Cartoon Brew}} the worldwide highest-grossing non-U.S. animated film,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/feature-film/chinese-animated-blockbuster-ne-zha-arriving-in-u-s-theaters-later-this-month-178311.html|title=American Audiences Don't Have To Wait Long To See The Chinese Blockbuster 'Ne Zha' In Theaters|date=16 August 2019|website=Cartoon Brew}} and the worldwide second-highest-grossing non-English-language film of all time at the time of its release. With a gross of over $742 million,{{cite web |title=Boxoffice, China Boxoffice, China film Boxoffice, Weekly Boxoffice, Yearly Boxoffice |url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/ |publisher=EntGroup |access-date=12 September 2019}} it was that year's fourth-highest-grossing animated film and China's all time fifth-highest-grossing film.{{cite web |title=Ne Zha 2nd place on Chinese mainland's all-time box office chart |url=http://www.china.org.cn/arts/2019-09/04/content_75170536.htm |website=China.org.cn |access-date=10 September 2019}}
It began a North American release on 29 August in select IMAX 3D theatres, before a nationwide rollout on 6 September.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/well-go-usa-bow-chinese-animated-hit-ne-zha-north-america-1232528|last=Brzeski|first=Patrick|title=China's Summer Hit Ne Zha to Get North American Release from Well Go USA (Exclusive)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 16, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019}} It was selected as the Chinese entry for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards,{{cite web|url=https://www.oscars.org/news/93-countries-competition-2019-international-feature-film-oscar |title=93 Countries in Competition for 2019 International Feature Film Oscar |work=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |date=7 October 2019 |access-date=8 October 2019}} becoming the first animated film from China to ever do so,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/2020-oscars-china-selects-ne-zha-international-feature-film-category-1246055|title=Oscars: China Selects 'Ne Zha' for International Feature Film Category|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=7 October 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-10-08}} but it was ultimately not nominated.
A second film, also loosely based off Investiture of the Gods, titled Jiang Ziya, was released on 1 October 2020, which is National Day in China.{{Cite web|title=国漫力作《姜子牙》10月1日国庆上映-新华网|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/ent/2020-08/17/c_1126376806.htm|access-date=2020-09-16|website=www.xinhuanet.com}} A direct sequel, Ne Zha 2, was released on 29 January 2025, which broke multiple box-office records and stands as the highest-grossing animated film of all time.
Plot
A Chaos Pearl, birthed from primordial essences, begins siphoning energies gluttonously. Supreme Lord Yuanshi Tianzun dispatches his disciples Taiyi Zhenren and Shen Gongbao to subdue the sentient pearl. Due to its ability to absorb energy, Taiyi and Shen are unable to defeat it. Eventually Tianzun separates the pearl into two opposite components: the Spirit Pearl and the Demon Orb. Tianzun places a heavenly curse upon the Demon Orb: in three years time it will be destroyed by heavenly lightning. Tianzun then instructs Taiyi to take the Spirit Pearl to be reincarnated as the third son of Li Jing in the town of Chentang Pass, to be named Ne Zha.
Shen steals the Spirit Pearl, causing Li Jing's pregnant wife Lady Yin to give birth to a reincarnation of the Demon Orb, Ne Zha. Taiyi tells them that Ne Zha's fate is sealed: in three years' time the heavenly curse placed upon the Demonic Orb will kill him. Li travels to Heaven with Taiyi in an attempt to plead for Ne Zha's life, but is told the curse is irremovable.
Meanwhile, Shen brings the stolen Spirit Pearl to the Dragon King. The dragons resent that they are confined to the ocean floor as jailers of the Heavenly Court. The Dragon King infuses the Spirit Pearl into an egg, giving birth to a son, Ao Bing, whom the Dragon King allows Shen to take as a student. The dragons hope that since Ao Bing is born from the Spirit Pearl, dragon kind will be deemed worthy by Heaven and allowed to ascend and become xian.
To tame his demonic nature and make him happy, Ne Zha's parents lie to him, telling him he was born of the Spirit Pearl and is destined to be a great demon hunter. Ne Zha studies under Taiyi and acquires great skills. Eventually becoming impatient, he escapes his confines to hunt demons. While chasing a water demon, he burns down a fishing village. Ao Bing joins Ne Zha's fight but is petrified by the demon. Ne Zha cleverly overcomes the demon and rescues both Ao Bing and a little girl, and he and Ao Bing become friends. Nevertheless, his actions are misunderstood by the townsfolk of the destroyed village as malicious, and he angrily lashes out at them, hurting many of them.
The Li household organizes a lavish birthday party for their son, inviting the townfolk to attend. Shen visits Ne Zha before the party, revealing the truth of his nature to him. Angry at his parents' deception, Ne Zha unleashes his true demonic form and nearly kills his father until Ao Bing intervenes. Feeling betrayed, Ne Zha leaves to await his fate.
Li discovers Ao Bing has the Spirit Pearl. Knowing that if this is revealed, all of dragon kind will be condemned forever, Ao Bing acts on Shen's command. He creates a massive sheet of ice above the town, intending to bury the town and remove all witnesses. Meanwhile, Ne Zha learns that while visiting Heaven to plead for his life, his father accepted an enchantment that would allow him to trade his life for Ne Zha's. Moved by his father's sacrifice, Ne Zha returns to the village to stop Ao Bing. Unleashing his full demonic form, Ne Zha defeats Ao Bing, but spares his life for being his only friend.
When the heavenly lightning approaches, Ne Zha surrenders to his fate but is unexpectedly joined by Ao Bing. Linking hands, they unleash the Chaos Pearl's ability to absorb energy. Their mortal bodies can't contain the full energy of the strike and are destroyed, but with Taiyi's help, they survive by becoming spirits, and the townsfolk kneel before them.
In the mid and post credits scenes, the Dragon King vows vengeance on the citizens of Chentang Pass for what happened to Ao Bing, while in an unknown location, Jiang Ziya is introduced.
Voice cast
= Mandarin Chinese =
- Lü Yanting as the child Nezha, son of Li Jing and Lady Yin
- Joseph Cao (囧森瑟夫) as the adolescent Nezha
- Han Mo as Ao Bing, the Dragon King's third son
- Chen Hao as Li Jing, Nezha's father and the chief who governs Chentang Pass. He becomes a noble father willing to sacrifice his own life to rescue his son Nezha
- Lü Qi as Lady Yin, Nezha's mother and the chieftess who also governs Chentang Pass.
- Zhang Jiaming as Taiyi Zhenren, Nezha's master, a Taoist immortal who lives on the Kunlun.
- Yang Wei as Shen Gongbao, Taiyi's brother and Ao Bing's master
= English =
- Jordan Cole as Ne Zha
- Griffin Puatu as adolescent Ne Zha
- Aleks Le as Ao Bing
- Vincent Rodriguez III as Li Jing
- Stephanie Sheh as Lady Yin
- Mike Pollock as Taiyi Zhenren
- Jaden Waldman as Shen Gongbao
Production
= Inspiration =
The film tells the mythological origins of Nezha, who is a protection deity in Chinese folk religion, and its story is loosely based on the literary version of the myth that forms two chapters of Investiture of the Gods, a Ming-dynasty shenmo novel, traditionally attributed to Xu Zhonglin, which incorporates various existing myths into a wider narrative.
The story has been adapted for the screen many times before, at least as early as 1927{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} or 1928,{{Cite web|url=https://movie.douban.com/subject/26413854/|language=zh-cn |script-title=zh:哪吒出世 (豆瓣)|website=movie.douban.com}} whether on its own (as in the 1979 traditionally-animated film Nezha Conquers the Dragon King) or as part of adaptations of the whole of Investiture of the Gods (such as the 2016 live-action film League of Gods).
= Pre-production =
Director Jiaozi spent two years in total to write the screenplay, and the film was in production for three years.{{cite news |author1=Katherine Chen |title=Nezha Becomes China's Highest-Grossing Animation Ever |url=https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/post/29036/nezha-beats-zootopia-to-become-china-s-top-grossing-animation |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=thatsmags |date=8 August 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/china/story20190728-976243 |script-title=zh:五年筹备 66版修改 动画电影《哪吒之魔童降世》上映两小时票房破亿 |work=zaobao.com |date=2019-07-27 |language=zh}}
= Animation production =
The film has more than 1,318 special effects shots, and it took over 20 Chinese special effects studios, employing more than 1,600 people, to realize the film's fairy tale setting, the mysterious Dragon King's Palace, and a complex fight between fire and water. One scene alone took two months to complete.{{cite news|url=https://k.sina.com.cn/article_7154574029_1aa7222cd00100il4k.html |script-title=zh:《哪吒之魔童降世》能否延续《大圣归来》的传奇 |work=sina |date=2019-07-24 |language=zh}}
Release
= Theatrical =
== Domestic ==
Executive production company and distributor Beijing Enlight Pictures premiered Ne Zha on 11 July 2019 in Beijing, followed by an encore on 12 July. The film was given a limited release in IMAX and China Film Giant Screen premium large format theatres on 13 July, and was released nationwide on 26 July.{{Cite news|script-title=zh:国漫《哪吒之魔童降世》宣布提档7月底公映|url=http://ent.ifeng.com/c/7nykkzWuJGU|access-date=2019-07-26|date=2019-07-02|publisher=iFeng|language=zh}}
== International ==
The film was released in cinemas in English-speaking regions in Mandarin with English subtitles around the end of August and beginning of September 2019.{{cn|date=April 2023}}
It was released in Australia on 23 August and in New Zealand on 29 August, distributed by CMC Pictures.{{Cite web|url=https://passport.weibo.com/visitor/visitor?entry=miniblog&a=enter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fweibo.com%2F6004526697%2FI2smAocwD%3Ffrom%3Dpage_1006066004526697_profile%26wvr%3D6%26mod%3Dweibotime&domain=.weibo.com&ua=php-sso_sdk_client-0.6.28&_rand=1576685360.5469|title=Sina Visitor System|website=passport.weibo.com}} It was released in the United States and Canada in select IMAX 3D venues on 29 August, followed by other cinemas on 6 September, distributed by Well Go USA Entertainment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wellgousa.com/films/ne-zha|title=NE ZHA (2019)|website=Well Go USA Entertainment}} It was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland, including in select IMAX 3D venues, on 30 August, distributed by CMC Pictures in collaboration with Cine Asia.{{Cite web|url=https://passport.weibo.com/visitor/visitor?entry=miniblog&a=enter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fweibo.com%2F6004526697%2FI3pc66WmD%3Ffrom%3Dpage_1006066004526697_profile%26wvr%3D6%26mod%3Dweibotime&domain=.weibo.com&ua=php-sso_sdk_client-0.6.28&_rand=1576685357.9269|title=Sina Visitor System| website= passport.weibo.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/ne-zha-2019|title=NE ZHA | British Board of Film Classification|website=bbfc.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule?filmSearch=Ne+Zha|title=Past, present and future releases to Past, Present and Future Releases | UK Recent and Upcoming Movie|website=launchingfilms.com}}
Reception
= Box office =
The film grossed 600 million yuan (est. $84 million) in its first three days alone. It broke local records with a $91.5 million opening, the highest ever for an animated film in China.{{Cite news|script-title=zh:国漫崛起！《哪吒之魔童降世》票房已过亿|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/c/2019-07-25/doc-ihytcitm4647313.shtml|access-date=2019-07-26|author=Mia|date=2019-07-25|publisher=sina|language=zh}}
On 2 August 2019, Ne Zha became the highest-grossing animated film of all time in China, a record held by Zootopia ($235.6 million) since 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/nezha-beats-zootopia-to-become-biggest-animation-of-all-time-in-china/5141709.article|title = 'Nezha' beats 'Zootopia' to become biggest animation of all time in China}} On 7 August 2019, Ne Zha became the fastest animated film to reach $400 million (in 12 days). It is currently the highest-grossing animated film of all time in a single market ($703.71 million in China) overtaking Incredibles 2 (2018) ($608.5 million in North America), the highest-grossing non-Disney or Pixar animated film in a single market, overtaking Shrek 2 (2004) ($441.2 million in North America), and the highest-grossing non-English spoken animated film, overtaking Spirited Away (2001) ($361.1 million worldwide).{{cite news |title=Ne Zha leads Chinese mainland box office for 7th day |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201908/02/WS5d439f4ca310cf3e35563847.html |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=chinadaily |date=2 August 2019}}{{cite news |first=Alex |last=Dudok de Wit |title=Nezha Smashes $460 Million Box Office, Set To Overtake Avengers: Endgame In China |url=https://www.cartoonbrew.com/box-office-report/nezha-smashes-460-million-set-to-overtake-avengers-endgame-in-china-177974.html |access-date=10 August 2019 |work=Cartoon Brew |date=9 August 2019}}{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Davis |title=China Box Office: Nezha Is 10th-Highest Grosser Ever in China After Two Weekends |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/nezha-avengers-endgame-china-box-office-1203291674/ |access-date=10 August 2019 |date=5 August 2019}} Upon reaching $700 million (in 46 days), it became the first animated feature film in film history to reach that milestone in a single market.
=Critical response=
The film gained highly positive reviews from critics.
Douban, a Chinese media rating site, gave the film 8.7 out of 10.{{cite news|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/330149944_827831|script-title=zh:30万人评《哪吒之魔童降世》依旧8.7分！颠覆还是合理改编？|work=Sohu|date=29 July 2019|language=zh}}
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that {{RT data|score}} of critics have given the film a positive review based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ne_zha|title=Ne Zha (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=dmy}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 54 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/ne-zha|title=Ne Zha Reviews|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=3 May 2020}}
Follow-ups and future
A second film, Jiang Ziya, also based off Investiture of the Gods, was slated for release on 25 January 2020 in China,{{cite news|title=Chinese mythology series Jiangziya relay Nezha at the beginning of the new year|url=https://www.jqknews.com/news/279660-Chinese_mythology_series_Jiangziya_relay_Nezha_at_the_beginning_of_the_new_year.html|access-date=17 December 2019|work=jqknews.com|date=25 September 2019}} but following the COVID-19 pandemic, all Chinese New Year releases were cancelled. It was released on 1 October 2020, which aligned with China's national day, in both China and the U.S.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11177804/releaseinfo?ref_=tt_ov_inf|title = Legend of Deification (2020) - IMDb|website = IMDb}}
A direct sequel to the film, Ne Zha 2, was released on 29 January 2025.{{cite news|last=Milligan|first=Mercedes|title=Animated Box Office God 'Nezha' Returns in New Sequel Trailer|url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/01/animated-box-office-god-nezha-returns-in-new-sequel-trailer/|access-date=29 January 2025|work=Animation Magazine|date=January 13, 2025}}{{cite news|title=「四川造」電影《哪吒之魔童鬧海》釋新預告 高燃之戰暗藏玄機|url=https://portal.sina.com.hk/news-china/sina/2025/01/26/1106612/%E3%80%8C%E5%9B%9B%E5%B7%9D%E9%80%A0%E3%80%8D%E9%9B%BB%E5%BD%B1%E3%80%8A%E5%93%AA%E5%90%92%E4%B9%8B%E9%AD%94%E7%AB%A5%E9%AC%A7%E6%B5%B7%E3%80%8B%E9%87%8B%E6%96%B0%E9%A0%90%E5%91%8A-%E9%AB%98%E7%87%83/|access-date=29 January 2025|work=Sina.com|date=26 January 2025|language=Zh}}
See also
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official site|https://www.wellgousa.com/films/ne-zha|U.S. and Canada official web page}}
- {{Official site|http://cococartoon.com|Coco Animation 可可豆动画}}
- {{IMDb title|10627720}}
- {{Mojo title|nezha}}
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|ne_zha}}
- {{douban|26794435}}
- {{Mtime|251525}}
{{Chinese submission for Academy Awards}}
{{Investiture of the Gods}}
{{Golden Rooster Award Best Animation}}
Category:2010s fantasy adventure films
Category:2010s Mandarin-language films
Category:2019 computer-animated films
Category:Animated feature films
Category:Animated films about demons
Category:Animated films based on Investiture of the Gods
Category:Chinese computer-animated films
Category:Chinese fantasy films
Category:Chinese animated comedy films