NE ZHA II – Review

As we reach the end of the big Summer cinema season of 2025, feature animation fans have had a variety of entries to savor. Though the biggest hits have been the “live action” adaptations of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON and LILO & STITCH, mind you, the filmmakers utilized realistic computer techniques to render the latter’s title co-star and the winged beasties of the former, there have been a few fully “created from pencil and computer” flicks. Near the start of the year, we saw a hit family film based on the DOG MAN book series, while in the last few weeks, we’ve been treated to another visit from the SMURFS and those BAD GUYS. Perhaps the greatest work may be an extension of a long-running live-action series with PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS. One segment of it was set in feudal Japan. Now, if that piqued your interest in more furious martial arts action, then that indie powerhouse A24 has just the movie for you. They’re releasing to theatres the dubbed-into-English box-office blockbuster (the biggest one in China ever) sequel NE ZHA II.

And it hits the ground running, and leaping, and punching. From that previous film, we see that the demon-like Ne Zha and angelic Ao Bing are without bodies. Luckily, Master Taiyi Zhenren is overseeing the villagers of Chentang Pass, who are mixing up a gelatinous goo that will form their new physical body “hosts”. Unfortunately, Bing’s forming body is destroyed while defending the town from an attack by three of the Dragon Kings. But his spirit is sent into the body of Zha. His parents, Lady Yin and Li Jing, send him with Taiyi aboard his flying pig on a quest to regain his immortality and split up the personalities. But they’ll have to face a series of trials and tests set up by Wuliang of the heavenly Chan set in order to acquire the needed magic potion for Bing. Ah. but things get complicated as his nefarious father, Ao Guang, actually the Dragon King of the East Sea, is preparing an attack, leading an army of undersea hybrids. Several decptions and double-crosses culminate in a battle for the planet with an advancing heavenly army and a fiery cauldron that creates elixers to confront the dragon forces and the increasingly more powerful Ne Zha.

To say that the film is visually stunning doesn’t really describe the amazing artistry that went into this. It’s told in now-traditional computer animation with incredible attention to detail along with some glorious effects (fire, oceans, etc.), and superb character design, especially the snake-like sea dragons. Unfortunately, that’s most of what stayed with me after the very lengthy 143-minute runtime. The story seems to be zipping in several directions all at once, making it jumbled and confusing. The only “big name” voice actor in this English “dub” is the always compelling Michelle Yeoh as the ethereal beauty Lady Yin. The other vocal talent often sounds as though they’re playing “catch up” with the exaggerated mouth movements. It’s especially the case with the motor-mouthed Taiyi (often a gluttenous bufoon) and the ill-tempered at times Ne Zha, who resembles so many anime tots. What really surprised me was the barrage of bodily fluid and functions gags (literally) that really try to elicit strained laughter or “gross-ou” groans. I did enjoy one comedy sequence in which Yin and Jing try to come up with the “perfect image” of Ne, going from muscle-bound behemoth to cuddily cute ragmuffin. This film is an interesting look at an action-adventure cartoon tale (well, the battle with the marmot tribe is pretty good) that may fascinate animation aficionados, but the average filmgoer may be baffled and a little dumfounded (maybe “brain-numb”) by the “eye candy” on display in NE ZHA II.

1.5 Out of 4

NE ZHA II is now playing in select theatres