Move over, Marvel—China’s animated hit Ne Zha 2 is rewriting the rules of cinematic spectacle! The sequel to 2019’s record-breaking Ne Zha has stormed the 2025 Spring Festival box office, raking in 9 billion yuan ($1.4B) in just days. But it’s not just the numbers turning heads—it’s the jaw-dropping visual effects!
Inspired by Ming Dynasty mythology, the film features 34 major scenes, with a mind-blowing sea monster battle arriving as early as the seventh minute. Executive producer Chen Changjiang revealed that the sequel’s VFX shots outnumber the entire first movie’s runtime. But perfection came at a cost: chains binding thousands of CGI creatures nearly broke the team.
‘Those chains were non-negotiable—they’re core to the story’s logic,’ said director Yang Yu (nicknamed ‘Jiaozi’). Despite outsourcing some scenes to global VFX giants, the domestic team ultimately reworked shots to achieve their vision. ‘We realized foreign teams’ strengths, but our gap is closing,’ Yang told China Media Group.
Result? A 10-billion-yuan total 2025 box office milestone for China—and proof that homegrown animation can go toe-to-toe with Hollywood.
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The sequel to 2019’s record-breaking Ne Zha has stormed the 2025 Spring Festival box office, raking in 9 billion yuan ($1.4B) in just days. But it’s not just the numbers turning heads—it’s the jaw-dropping visual effects!
Executive producer Chen Changjiang revealed that the sequel’s VFX shots outnumber the entire first movie’s runtime. But perfection came at a cost: chains binding thousands of CGI creatures nearly broke the team.
Despite outsourcing some scenes to global VFX giants, the domestic team ultimately reworked shots to achieve their vision. ‘We realized foreign teams’ strengths, but our gap is closing,’ Yang told China Media Group.
