Why You Should Go See “Nezha,” China’s Highest Grossing Animated Movie Ever

Just two weeks after its release, Nezha (哪吒之魔童降世) is already the most successful animated film ever to hit Chinese theaters, raking in over RMB 1.5 billion – and for good reason. It’s not just the barrage of special effects, snappy dialogue, and hand-to-hand combat scenes between magical beings, but also its titular hero’s unique journey that makes this one of the most unique – and watchable – films to come out of China in years.

Like so many subjects of Chinese movies, Nezha is a mythical figure of classical Chinese literature, most famously from Investiture of the Gods, but also appearing in other works, including Journey to the West. According to these stories, the prodigious Nezha is born to a military leader and is immediately able to speak and walk. After training under Taiyi Zhenren, another famous figure of Daoist literature, he later becomes embroiled in a conflict between the Dragon King and his own family.

This latest retelling is not particularly faithful to classics, but is rather a vehicle for the writer and director, Jiaozi (yep, like the food), to tell a story of mastering one’s own fate. And what better way to do that than through a rebellious youth with the powers of a god?

Part of the fun is that the audience is forced to question whether Nezha is fundamentally good or bad

While it is not exactly a coming-of-age story (unless you count the bizarre fight scene where Nezha is briefly transformed into a more powerful teenage version of himself), nor is it quite the tale of a reluctant hero –Nezha is eager for action literally from birth – the story does center around a young Nezha as he struggles to uncover his own true nature. After being outcast from a society that views him as the devil incarnate and put on magical lockdown in his room in the military fortress, this proves to be no small task.

The viewer is more aware of his origin story than Nezha himself, but due to his depiction as a rambunctious, egocentric, and frankly, kind of ugly child, the audience is forced to question whether he is fundamentally good or bad. Indeed, the lines between good and evil are blurred throughout the movie as even the Dragon King antagonist is somewhat complex and worthy of sympathy. That is exactly what makes Nezha’s struggle so interesting: the “right” thing for him to do is not cut and dried, and only he can decide for himself.

Refreshingly, “Nezha” is unafraid to put a modern spin on an ancient Chinese tale

Unfortunately, you probably will not be able to catch this movie in theaters with English subtitles (watch a subtitled trailer here to get a taste). There are still, however, a number of reasons to see it on the big screen, even if your Chinese isn’t quite at the top of the HSK ladder. For one thing, the plot is relatively easy to follow without understanding every bit of dialogue, even if some of the explanations about the power dynamics between the dragon race and humanity get lost in the background. More importantly, this movie is downright fun. Both action and humor are fast-moving, and just as the story’s philosophy is updated for a modern audience, so too are its jokes, which creatively blend traditional elements with concepts from modern technology. Oh, and there are a couple of fart jokes as well.

Overall, if you want to see what locals are watching, Nezha is great place to start.

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Images: Medium, Huanghelou