Ne Zha

"Yao are like a mirror—every story about them ultimately reflects humanity itself." By any measure—quantity, quality, or box office—2025 is a breakout year for Chinese animated films. It began with Ne Zha 2 smashing records during the Spring Festival and reaching audiences worldwide. Summer brought an even fiercer lineup: NOBODY, The Legend of Hei 2, Curious Tales of a Temple Chinese, Fairizest: Rally for Pally, and Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf: Bright New Dawn. Among them, NOBODY and The Legend of Hei 2 stood out as rare 2D hits, with the former breaking a nine-year box office record. Together, these works suggest Chinese animation has finally moved past old critiques—too many Monkey Kings and Ne Zhas, too much 3D, too many recycled myths. And yet, one curious pattern remains: so many protagonists are…yao. Of the six non-children's animated films this year, five feature them. Why does Chinese animation keep returning to monsters, spirits, and the supernatural? What Are Yao? An old saying goes: "Where there is strangeness, there must be Yao (妖)." In ancient China, people explained unexplainable phenomena through categories. Natural wonders were attributed to gods (神), while things that disrupted the normal order became yao. It was…

The most debated element of Ne Zha 2 is its transformation of a tale of defiance against authority into a story about familial love and harmony. The film takes such bold liberties with tradition that many viewers struggle to reconcile it with earlier versions. So what exactly did this "Ne Zha 2" Ne Zha betray—and what did he inherit? A New Ne Zha, A Different Spirit Did the film betray Ne Zha's anti-authoritarian core? Some say yes, but the answer is not so simple. In Investiture of the Gods, Ne Zha's rebellion is tempered by filial duty. Before his famous self-sacrifice, he is still a loyal son, killing himself largely to save his parents. The 1979 animation Ne Zha Conquers the Dragon King (哪咤闹海) also shifts the emphasis: Ne Zha dies to protect the people of Chentang Pass. His defiance of authority is there, but it is indirect. Seen this way, the new film isn't unprecedented. Most retellings soften Ne Zha's radical edge, and Ne Zha 2 is simply the most dramatic example. There is also a practical reason. Across eras and cultures, audiences have struggled to accept the shocking "returning flesh and bones to parents" scene—a symbolic act of…