NE ZHA 2/ Nezha: Mo tong nao hai

China, 2025, 144 minutes, Colour.

Directed by Yu Yang.

A film very much for the Chinese audience, in China or around the world. Audiences not familiar with the culture, the Taoist tradition on which the film is based, will find it very difficult to follow. However, it can be described as “visually fascinating”.

A brief overview of the plot: After the catastrophe, although the souls of Nezha and Aobing were saved, their bodies would soon be shattered. Taiyi Zhenren planned to use the seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies.

The film received extensive worldwide release at the beginning of 2025, especially after its success in China itself. In fact, very quickly, it became the top grossing animated film in animation history. It also quickly became one of the highest grossing films in China, making it a film that many audiences thought that they should see.

For those not familiar with the story line (and the film is, in fact, a sequel to 2019 original film) even serious concentration may not be enough to be able to follow the plot, the different characters, their interactions, the meaning. Which means that the important thing, remembering that the film runs for almost 2 ½ hours, is to sit back and appreciate the visuals, the colour, the digital creations, characters and action, interactions as well as listen to the sound, the musical background.

What can be recommended is a surrender to the experience, the sensory experience rather than the exploration of meanings or analysis of themes.