Seeing China's rise through the success of Ne Zha

With the success of Ne Zha 1 (2019), domestic animated films have entered a new golden age, and Chinese animation has made remarkable progress! In 2025, Ne Zha 2 is recording a strong box office performance, becoming the highest-grossing animated film globally, which not only represents the rise of China's animation industry in terms of technology but also conveys several important messages to the world.

In the past, Chinese animation was often seen as products for a younger audience, with technical standards and narrative abilities that struggled to compete with Hollywood or Japanese animation. However, Ne Zha 2 continues the high quality of its predecessor, showcasing visual effects, character development, and depth of storyline that demonstrate the maturity of the industrialization process in Chinese animation, as well as its ability to compete with international animation giants. This means that Chinese animation is no longer merely a "learner", but an "innovator" capable of independent creation and trend-setting.

Additionally, Ne Zha 2 reinterprets traditional culture from a modern perspective, making it more aligned with contemporary audiences' aesthetics and values. This innovation not only resonates with domestic viewers but also attracts overseas markets' interest in Chinese mythology. With the enhancement of China's cultural soft power, domestic animation, Xiaohongshu, Douyin, and others are gradually becoming new vehicles for cultural export, helping Chinese stories reach the world.

As of the time of writing, Ne Zha 2 has already made 13.7 billion yuan in global box office! Of that, the overseas box office accounts for only 115 million. This indicates that China has become one of the largest film markets globally and ranks first in the world for single film markets. With a population of 1.4 billion, China truly holds immense potential. Observing the rapid development of the country, the world is eager to have a share in this enormous market.

Even international stars such as Blackpink's Jennie are recently filming in Mandarin to penetrate the Xiaohongshu and Douyin markets, focusing on the mainland market. Furthermore, foreign interest in China's soft culture and tourism is growing.

The box office success of Ne Zha 2 tells the world that even if products from other countries are suppressed and unable to be screened or sold, relying solely on the Chinese market is already substantial enough to stand on its own. Currently, many European countries still do not have the opportunity to screen Ne Zha 2, yet Chinese communities in Europe are even organizing trips to Greece to watch it! Many netizens are posting complaints about the indefinite delay in screenings. If given the chance, the box office would far exceed current figures.

The rise of Ne Zha 2 symbolizes the comprehensive enhancement of Chinese animation from technology to culture, from market to international influence. This is not only a significant breakthrough for Chinese animation but also signifies that in the future Chinese animation will occupy a more important position in the global market, becoming an undeniable force in the world animation industry.

The author is a Hong Kong-based commentator. The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.