The long-awaited Nezha 2, the sequel to the popular movie Nezha, premiered in the US on February 13, 2025. As of February 18, 2025, the movie has made $1.69 billion in global box office revenue, surpassing Inside Out 2 as the highest-grossing animated film. The hit movie is loosely based on the legend of the Investiture of the Gods, incorporating Chinese history, culture, and mythology.
Among the many exceptional qualities of the movie, its amazing graphics are particularly notable. The mesmerizing and intricate animated scenes and special effects have especially appealed to audience members. Such high-quality animation would not have been possible without a massive amount of investment, effort, and cost. The movie was reportedly produced on a $80 million budget, featuring around 2000 special effects shots and involving 138 animation companies.
According to CNN, the movie’s director, Yang Yu, remarked that although Chinese animation studios are still currently behind larger foreign animation studios such as Disney, Pixar, and Studio Ghibli, they are quickly catching up. He noted how the animation seen in Nezha 2 could not have made that clearer. It is particularly interesting to note that Yang is a self-taught animator and is also keenly interested in anime, suggesting that his background may have contributed to the movie’s strong emphasis on quality animation and special effects.
As a movie already culturally significant to Chinese audiences, Nezha 2 is elevated even more by its state-of-the-art visual effects. As the movie gains success and popularity, Nezha 2 sets the scene for a new era of Chinese animation. The movie also continues to gain traction in the global market, sharing the Chinese culture it highlights with an international audience.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/14/media/china-ne-zha-2-box-office-success-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeschina/2025/02/18/another-look-imax-china-soars-as-blockbuster-ne-zha-2-breaks-records/
https://nbcnews.com/news/world/chinese-film-nezha-2-becomes-worlds-highest-grossing-animated-movie-rcna192753
http://en.people.cn/n3/2025/0219/c90000-20278336.html