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Since its release during the 2025 Spring Festival period, the Chinese animated film Nezha: The Demon Child Churns the Sea (also known as Nezha 2) has stormed its way to critical and commercial heights, toppling one record after another. The numbers tell the story: on February 6th, the film captured top spot on China's all-time box office charts. On February 7th, it became the world's highest-grossing movie in a single market. By February 13th, it had secured its place as the first Chinese film to gross 10 billion yuan. February 18th marked another milestone when it became the highest-grossing animated film worldwide. On March 15th, global box office receipts surpassed 15.019 billion yuan, placing it fifth on the all-time global box office charts. On April 27th, the film was honored with a Special Contribution Award at the 20th China Huabiao Film Awards. 

Many observers believe that the blockbuster marks the dawn of a new era for China's animation industry. It has struck a unique cultural chord with contemporary Chinese audience by demonstrating confidence in Chinese culture at the crossroads where tradition meets modernity. International media outlets believe that the films unique take on Chinese mythology and stunning visual effects have captured the charm of Eastern culture.

I. The secret to success

Nezha 2 marks a new milestone for Chinese animated cinema. Its creators have found success through their commitment to mining the essence of Chinese culture, prioritizing creative artistic expression, and staying closely attuned to the emotional needs of the audience. By harnessing the power of modern technology, they have given traditional culture a contemporary lease of life. This has helped deliver breakthroughs on multiple fronts, from content creation to industrial upgrading and global outreach. 

Showcasing the appeal of Chinese culture through a rich tapestry of cultural elements

Drawing from traditional Chinese culture, Nezha 2 offers a fresh take on the classic mythological figure of Nezha. On a visual level, the film is also inspired by China's traditional culture, crafting fresh imagery for elements such as the Boundary Guardian Beasts and the Tianyuan Cauldron, while constructing Chinese mythological settings, such as the underwater Dragon Palace and the Yuxu Palace, which exude a classical otherworldly beauty. The unique charm of Chinese culture shines through in every aspect of the film, from the delicate ink-wash rendering and exquisite costume design to the color palettes and the styling of ritual vessels, robes, and magical artifacts. The film's score weaves together traditional musical elements, like the suona, the sanxian, Mongolian throat singing, and Dong ethnic choral music, greatly amplifying the expressive power and emotional impact of the film. Observers note that whether it is the action role-playing game Black Myth: Wukong, Nezha 2, or the influx of “TikTok refugees” to the Chinese social networking platform Xiaohongshu, all phenomena demonstrate the draw of Chinese culture. They have filled people with a growing sense of national pride and confidence.

Moviegoers enjoy the animated blockbuster Nezha: The Demon Child Churns the Sea in the IMAX theater of Yuejie Cinema, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, February 25, 2025. PHOTO BY XINHUA REPORTER OU DONGQU

Resonating across generations through a narrative that blends together contemporary values

Nezha 2 provides a modern twist on the traditional themes of the Nezha mythological world, thus building a bridge between traditional culture and the values of today. The creative team behind the blockbuster reimagines Nezha as the “reincarnation of the demon orb” and loads him with anxiety about his identity and inner conflict. They transform the “filial conflict” of the original story into a theme about “fighting fate to change one’s destiny,” injecting the plot with strong real-world concerns. 

The thorns that cover Nezha’s body when he is struck by a brutal spell symbolize the struggles that young people face today, while Lady Yin’s embrace, clinging on even as the thorns pierce her skin, represents the healing power of family. The climactic scene where all sides join forces to destroy Tianyuan Cauldron serves as a symbol of collective effort. Commentators have noted that what makes Nezha 2 truly compelling is the way it breaks free from traditional storytelling frameworks to creatively transform the best of traditional Chinese culture and present it in innovative ways. The film seamlessly connects ancient mythology with a modern ethos, breathing vibrant new life into traditional culture for a new era.

A technological leap for China’s entire film industry

Behind Nezha 2’s compelling story and box office success lies a technological leap forward for China’s film industry and the rise of smart manufacturing in China. During production, the film brought together 138 domestic animation companies, including top-tier teams like Base Media and Original Force Animation. Over 4,000 people participated in the creation of more than 1,900 special effects shots and over 10,000 special effects elements. Animation production encompassed every stage from character design and scene modeling to effects processing and lighting rendering, with all sides working together to create an intricately crafted animation masterpiece. 

Breathtaking scenes like the underwater ten-thousand-dragon prison break and the splitting open of the void were created with the help of particle ink-wash technology and rendering services provided by Gui’an Supercomputing Center. The China Academy of Art also contributed to elevating the film’s overall artistic quality by providing input on the pre-production concept and storyboard design for multiple scenes, as well as post-production atmosphere design and color grading. Many observers believe that Nezha 2’s vast and specialized division of labor is proof that the Chinese animation sector is gradually establishing a complete industrialized production system. By realizing a remarkable shift from importing technology to exporting standards, the industry is now starting to write its own “heroic epic.” The Hollywood Reporter has praised the film for redefining the heights of Chinese cinema with cutting-edge animation technology and compelling storytelling.

Telling Chinese stories in a universal language

Nezha 2 weaves universal human values, such as self-awakening and resistance to fate, into its narrative fabric, while its portrayal of family shifts from an emphasis on patriarchal authority in the original myth to a focus on familial bonds. 

While preserving the Chinese cultural roots of the story, these adaptations help dissolve the barriers to communication between cultures and bridge the emotional distance separating different peoples and groups. They successfully transform a theme of “defying fate” into a coming-of-age allegory that has resonated with Gen Z worldwide. Observers believe that China’s traditional culture provides the greatest common ground for its film and television exports. Backed by technological innovation and aesthetic transformation, globally-oriented narratives with Chinese essence can captivate audiences worldwide, helping to further extend the reach of contemporary retellings of Chinese mythology.

Creating fertile ground for innovation with supportive policies

Commentators believe that Nezha 2’s success is the most obvious example yet of how a dual focus on producing outstanding creative works and fostering a favorable environment is paying off. It is the result of the development of the cultural creative industry ecosystem. The boom in China’s animation industry would not have been possible without an increase in government support including policy and financial assistance it has provided throughout the entire production cycle from project incubation to maturation. 

As the Chengdu Economic Daily noted, every step in the development of Nezha 2’s director, Yang Yu (also known as Jiaozi), has been quietly supported by the local government in Sichuan Province. In recent years, Sichuan—home to the production company behind the Nezha film series—has made online audiovisual production a priority industry. The province has established national-level platforms, like the China (Chengdu) Online Audiovisual Industry Base, and introduced such policies as subsidies for gazelle enterprises and rewards for game licenses. It has also improved the content creation, distribution, and derivative service sectors, promoted vertical integration across the film industry chain, and encouraged integrated development of the sci-fi, animation, and e-sports sectors.

II. Insights from the success of Nezha 2

The insights we can glean from the success of Nezha 2 are as follows: we must respect and follow the laws that underlie artistic creation, coordinate our efforts to produce outstanding works and cultivate talent, and focus on both creating excellent individual pieces and enhancing the overall creative environment. Finally, we must foster a dynamic landscape that consistently produces both exceptional works and outstanding artists by striving to deepen reform, refine policies, and build up our institutional frameworks.

Pursuing excellence in the crafting of outstanding works

The makers of Nezha 2 exemplify the spirit of craftsmanship through their relentless pursuit of perfection. For example, the film’s creators spent half a year painstakingly perfecting a single three-second sequence of fish swimming through the Yuxu Palace treasure house. Observers suggest that film companies should zero in on creative development and prioritize quality content that features compelling storylines, memorable characters, distinctive artistic styles, and profound cultural meaning. They must let the quality of their work speak to the audience and strive to produce more outstanding films that resonate both intellectually and artistically. This requires respecting the principles underlying the artistic process, rejecting short-sighted thinking, and focusing on crafting a long-term vision and creating a lasting impact. Film companies need to have the patience to refine their projects and cultivate talent, and provide creators with the time and creative freedom they need. With quiet, persistent efforts, companies will eventually see their sustained investments leading to rich rewards.

Strengthening policy support through a range of measures

Nezha 2’s winning formula can be replicated elsewhere and has the potential to drive industry development in other regions. Public commentators have pointed out that it is important to optimize the business environment and strengthen support policies for the cultural sector. They would like to see the introduction of preferential policies such as tax incentives and financial subsidies, along with more support for technological innovation in the cultural sector and for industrial integration. It is vital to encourage cultural innovation and foster a tolerance for experimentation and failure, so as to create an open and inclusive atmosphere where enterprises are free from concerns and entrepreneurs have the confidence they need to innovate. Experts believe that amid a new wave of scientific and technological revolution, it is crucial to identify technological tipping points and entry points for breakthroughs. On this basis, we should focus on applying digital technologies in artistic creation and promote widespread experimentation within the arts, in an effort to steadily accelerate integration between the cultural and technological sectors. 

Driving integrated development for the film and television industry

We should leverage the cultural industry’s ability to create positive ripple effects and drive broader growth by promoting integrated development between the film and television industry and sectors like tourism and innovative cultural production. By activating long-term intellectual property operations, we can create closed-loop consumer ecosystems. As The People’s Daily noted, to achieve long-term development, the film and television industry must move beyond short-term “traffic frenzies” and create lasting IP value by fundamentally leaning into China’s cultural confidence, driving development through technological innovation, and building upon a robust industry ecosystem. At the same time, we should also work to build collaborative industry chains and drive coordinated economic development between regions. As the WeChat public account “Wenbi Gengyun” noted, the film and television industry needs to further strengthen regional collaboration to promote the formation and growth of industrial clusters. It should work to drive shared regional economic prosperity by sharing resources, engaging in technological cooperation, and promoting industrial coordination across regions. Observers have suggested that the industry must also work to put in place stronger standards, implement standardized production processes, and develop an industrial ecosystem featuring a clear division of labor and efficient collaboration. Such efforts will help to further industrialize China’s film and television industry. 

Improving the promotion and dissemination of works with targeted policies

To reach larger audiences, we must adhere to the principles underlying modern communication when promoting and disseminating artistic works. While adapting to the fact that Chinese audiences tend to go to movies mainly during holidays, we should encourage viewers to make movie going a regular part of their cultural lives and develop consistent habits in this regard. We should pay greater attention to the needs of audiences in third- and fourth-tier cities and other untapped markets to unlock new growth potential. We should use diverse marketing and distribution methods, leveraging digital platforms for more targeted advertising, driving traffic through mobile internet and smartphone apps, and working with social media content creators to support in-theater attendance. To improve our international reach, we should guide companies to maintain a strong sense of cultural confidence. We must work to adapt Chinese culture for the international audience and blend traditional elements with modern technology. We need to tell Chinese stories in innovative ways that will easily resonate with the overseas audience. By doing so, we can boost the global influence of Chinese culture.

Jiang Chao works in the Culture and Arts Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee.

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 9, 2025)