Ne Zha 2, the Chinese animated fantasy film, opened in theaters across China on January 29, 2025. This date coincided with the first day of the Chinese New Year celebrations. The English language version of the movie is scheduled for release in the United States on August 22, 2025. This release will be handled by A24 and CMC Pictures. The film will also be shown in other countries including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand .
The movie is a direct sequel to the highly successful 2019 film Ne Zha. It continues the story of the rebellious young demigod. The film is based on the Chinese mythological character Ne Zha and the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods by Xu Zhonglin. The story follows Ne Zha and his friend Ao Bing as they face new challenges after a catastrophic event destroys their physical bodies .
Voice Cast and Characters
The film features a talented voice cast in both Mandarin and English. In the Mandarin version, Lü Yanting voices the child Ne Zha, while Joseph Cao provides the voice for the adolescent Ne Zha. Han Mo returns as Ao Bing, the third son of the Dragon King of the East Sea. Other key Mandarin voice actors include Lü Qi as Lady Yin, Chen Hao as Li Jing, and Zhang Jiaming as Taiyi Zhenren .
For the English dub, Crystal Lee voices Ne Zha, with Griffin Puatu as the adolescent Ne Zha. Aleks Le plays Ao Bing. A significant addition to the English cast is Michelle Yeoh, who voices Lady Yin. Vincent Rodriguez III voices Li Jing, and Rick Zeiff plays Taiyi Zhenren. The English version aims to introduce the story to international audiences while keeping its cultural roots .
Plot and Story Details
The plot of Ne Zha 2 begins where the first film ended. Ne Zha and Ao Bing have their bodies destroyed by godly lightning. Their master, Taiyi Zhenren, uses the Seven-Colored Sacred Lotus to regenerate their bodies. However, Ao Bing’s new body is fragile. Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, believes his son is dead. He orders an attack on Chentang Pass .
A ceasefire deal is made. Ne Zha must share his body with Ao Bing’s spirit for seven days. They must complete three trials to become immortals and win a potion that can fully restore Ao Bing’s body. The trials are set by Immortal Wuliang, leader of the heavenly Chan sect. During their journey, they uncover a conspiracy. The Chan sect planned to frame the dragons for attacking Chentang Pass to ensure their own domination .
The film combines action and comedy with deeper mythological elements. It explores themes of friendship, identity, and rebellion against injustice. The final act features large-scale battles and emotional moments as Ne Zha and Ao Bing fight to restore balance .
Production Background
Director Yang Yu, also known as Jiaozi, returned to direct the sequel. The production was confirmed shortly after the first film’s success in 2019. The movie took five years to produce. With a production budget of $80 million, it became China’s most expensive animated film. The previous record was held by Deep Sea in 2023 .
The production involved several companies. Chengdu Coco Cartoon, Beijing Enlight Media, and Beijing Enlight Pictures were key producers. The film was also supported by Sichuan Province’s funds for major cultural projects .
Critical Response and Box Office Performance
Ne Zha 2 has received highly positive reviews from critics. The animation quality, action sequences, and emotional story have been praised. The film achieved massive commercial success. It has grossed over $2.2 billion worldwide. This makes it the highest-grossing animated film of all time. It is also the highest-grossing non-English language film and the fifth-highest-grossing film overall .
Some reviews noted the film’s initial hour has juvenile humor. However, the latter part of the movie shifts to a more serious and spectacular tone. The climax features large-scale battles and emotional depth that have impressed audiences and critics alike .
“If I can’t be who I am, I’ll just have to change the world!” – Crystal Lee’s character Ne Zha in the English dub .
Global Release and Availability
After its release in China, the film expanded to other markets. The international release includes countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The United States release date is set for August 22, 2025. The English dub will be released by A24 and CMC Pictures. There has been no official announcement about streaming availability yet. The film is expected to follow a traditional theatrical release first .
The runtime of the film is 144 minutes. This is longer than many animated films, but the engaging story holds audience attention .
Significance and Cultural Impact
Ne Zha 2 is part of a growing trend of Chinese animated films achieving global success. The first Ne Zha film was a major hit in 2019. It showed that Chinese animation could compete on the world stage. The sequel continues this tradition by blending Chinese mythology with modern storytelling and animation techniques .
The film’s success is a significant achievement for the Chinese film industry. It demonstrates the potential for non-English language films to perform well globally. The story of Ne Zha is a classic in Chinese culture. This movie introduces the character to a new generation and to international audiences .
Credits: Wikipedia, IMDb
