With excellent word-of-mouth among Generation Z, Ne Zhais rated higher than the 2015 phenomenon, Monkey King: Hero is Back. It scored 8.7 points out of 10 based on 320,000-plus reviews on Douban, China's largest film review site.
Optimism about this film also runs high among critics and industry insiders, with many predicting it will be this summer's biggest money spinner and soon shatter the box office record held by Hero is Back, the highest-grossing Chinese animated film of all time.
Film tracker Maoyan also keeps increasing its predication of the film's final box office takings, with its current prediction being 2.25 billion yuan ($337.5 million).
If you wonder what the magical formula ofNe Zha's success is, please read more to find out.
Creative adaptation
Although Ne Zha's image in this film first strikes audiences as bizarre and kind of ugly for the heavy dark circles under his eyes, and his scary, crooked teeth, the new Ne Zha is being praised for hitting the soft spot in many hearts as cool, smart and entertaining.
The creative adaptation is not limited to Ne Zha's image; people can also see a major change to his character. The household name from The Investitures of the Godsused to be known for his fight against the East Sea Dragon King and his challenge to his father, Li Jing, the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.
However, Yang Yu, Ne Zha's director and screenwriter, who is better known by his online avatar, Jiaozi, characterizes the title role as a rebellious and righteous youth who tries his best to break stereotypes and reverse his predetermined fate.
Unlike the Ne Zha who fights authority and patriarchy that Chinese people are familiar with, Ne Zha in Yang's film fights bias. Born as a reincarnation of the devil, Ne Zha is hated, feared and cursed, but he believes his fate is not predestined and he can choose to be a demon or a god.
So this fresh rendition of the ancient legendary figure pulls at the heartstrings of the young for they can see themselves in Ne Zha, who suffers from prejudice and injustice but boldly stands up to it.
The original characterization of other figures in the film also wins praises. Aobing, the third son of the East Sea Dragon King, who was killed by Ne Zha in other Ne Zha-themed productions, has become a heartthrob among audiences.
Stoked for his charming looks, gentle manners, and a personality that is poles apart from Ne Zha's, social media users have worked themselves into a frenzy of idolizing him and Ne Zha as a compatible couple.
Ne Zha's master, Taiyi Zhenren, is turned into a hilarious character who speaks with a Sichuan dialect and his rival, Shen Gongbao, who suffers from injustice, also makes audiences burst out laughing for his comic effect stuttering.
Contemporary values
The fact that the film can touch a chord with most audiences comes down to a key element – the contemporary values instilled in the film.
Ne Zha's fight against the prejudice mentioned above is the major value championed by the film. Meanwhile, his parents' patient and inspiring parenting is another aspect that many people regard as quite commendable and advisable for contemporary parents.
Li Jing, who was known as a stern and callous disciplinarian, is portrayed as a caring father who would sacrifice himself for the welfare of his son. His behavior and lines provide the main tear-jerking moments in the film.
The importance of parents' company during children's growth is also discussed in the film through Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin, who is a working mom who finds time to care for and play with her isolated son.
Many critics commented that Ne Zha's parents can set modern parents pondering this question: When your child is alienated and misunderstood, how can you inspire them and guide them with love to find courage and confidence?
Fine production
In addition to the rich content, Ne Zha's fine production is another aspect that makes Chinese animation lovers thrilled and proud, with many claiming it can rival those produced by Hollywood studios like Disney and Pixar.
It took the perfectionism-driven director two years to revise and refine the script, resulting in as many as 66 versions of the Ne Zhascript.
As the most complex animated production ever made in China, Ne Zhahas 1,318 special effects shots, accounting for 80 percent of the film's total shots.
To realize the film's fairy tale setting, the Dragon King's mysterious dungeon, and a breathtaking fight between fire and ice, more than 1,600 animators from 20 special effects studios worked around the clock for three years.
It took the team about three months to test the major scenes at the end of the film, the director said.
Rich content, inspiring message, and spectacular production, domestic animation fans cheered that they have every reason to be proud of Ne Zha.
