Ne Zha 2is one of the world’s biggest ever box office hits, but does it require watching the last movie to make sense? The third entry in the Fengshen Cinematic Universe,Ne Zha 2proved to be a cultural juggernaut when it was released in China. Quickly becomingone of the world’s most successful films at the global box office(and faraway the most profitable animated movie ever),Ne Zha 2is a fascinating experience for western audiences who aren’t as familiar with the legendary tales that serve as the movie’s inspiration.
With A24 bringing the animated film to the United States with a new English dub, it’s the perfect chance for curious moviegoers to see what exactly hasmadeNe Zha 2such a hit. However, those prospective viewers might be hesitant to see the movie if they haven’t watched at least 2019’sNe Zha, as well as the 2020 prequelJiang Ziya. However,Ne Zha 2opens with a pretty succinct intro that sums up those plotlines so that new viewers aren’t held up at all.
Ne Zha 2 Is A Direct Sequel (But Recaps Everything Pretty Quickly)
WhileNe Zha 2works better if audiences have seenNe Zha, the sequel quickly gets new viewers up to speed so thatthey don’t need to see the original.Ne Zha 2is a direct sequel to the first film, building off the conclusion that saw Ne Zha and Ao Bing sacrifice their bodies but live on as spirits.
Ne Zha 2picks up immediately afterwards, with Taiyi struggling to create new bodies for the pair while Ao Bing’s father, the Dragon King, uses his demonic army to attack the village of Chentang Pass in revenge for Ao Bing’s apparent demise. There’s a lot of backstory to run through, butNe Zha 2quickly dispenses with the necessary lore dump.
It helps thatNe Zha 2leans into the cartoonish animation of the previous film, making the character personalities clear from body language and design.It’s very easy to pick up motivation fromNe Zha 2’s characters, especially as the plot progresses and new characters are introduced with their own plans.
Ne Zha 2is very much building on the events of the previous film, with the character arcs and dynamics reflecting the storylines established in 2019’s film. However, those arcs are very clear throughout the film. Audiences who haven’t seenNe Zhashouldn’t have too much trouble figuring outthe character arcs that build to the epic conclusion ofNe Zha 2.
Ne Zha 2 Is Improved By Watching The Original But Doesn’t Need It
Overall,Ne Zha 2works better if audiences have seen the first film — butthe movie does a good job of getting the necessary character beats acrossin a succinct manner for unfamiliar audiences. Ne Zha and Ao Bing’s friendship, which serves as one of the emotional bedrocks and sources of comedy inNe Zha 2, is the core dynamic of the first film.
Their bond is more effective when it has the full context of the first film’s storyline, butAo Bing and Ne Zha still work as foils and friends inNe Zha 2for unfamiliar audiences. The character dynamics are forged between the main cast in the first film, but are clear enough for even young audiences to quickly pick up and understand.
The biggest complicating factors inNe Zha 2for people unfamiliar with the first one are characters like Shen Gongbao and his family, who are rather bluntly fit into the movie’s narrative. However, these characters and their clear arcs in contrast to Ne Zha and his familymake their place in the narrative clear without too much explanation.
Simply put,Ne Zha 2benefits from seeing the prior film first. However, the recap at the beginning of the film and quick-paced plot quickly catch viewers up to speed. It’s also a fast-paced, fun, and even awe-inspiring adventure. It’s worth checking outNe Zha 2even if you haven’t seen the first film.
