Ne Zha 2 has quickly become a global phenomenon, grossing nearly $2 billion worldwide, most of it from the Asian market. After finally catching up with the first film earlier this week, I was fortunate to attend A24’s IMAX 3D re-release of the sequel here in the U.S. And let me just say—this might be the most epic animated film I’ve ever seen.
The story picks up immediately where the first left off. Following a shared resurrection with Ao Bing, Ne Zha must face three deadly trials to restore Ao Bing’s body. Under the supervision of the immortal Wu Liang, they’re tested not just by the trials themselves, but by a rising threat from the heavenly Chan sect. What follows is a mythic journey filled with breathtaking visuals, larger-than-life action, and themes of destiny, friendship, and defiance against the gods.
From the opening moments, Ne Zha 2 is an absolute spectacle. The animation is jaw-dropping—water, fire, sand, and even small character details are rendered with stunning precision. Watching it in IMAX 3D only amplified the immersion, pulling me fully into its world. I usually avoid 3D films, but here it elevated the experience, making every battle sequence feel larger than life.
The English voice cast includes returning actors Aleks Le (Ao Bing) and Vincent Rodriguez III (Li Jing), while Crystal Lee takes over as Ne Zha, Michelle Yeoh replaces Stephanie Sheh as Lady Yin, and Rick Zieff steps in for Taiyi. For the most part, the transitions work. Ne Zha and Taiyi’s new voices fit naturally, and by the end of the film, you hardly notice the change. Michelle Yeoh, however, was a bit hit or miss. While she shines in some key emotional moments, other scenes felt slightly forced, as if she was adjusting to voice acting. Still, the film’s handling of Ne Zha’s relationship with his parents—especially in the final hour—is one of its strongest emotional anchors.
Narratively, the sequel expands on the first film’s themes of fate and self-determination with even greater ambition. While Ne Zha (2019) focused on a straightforward “fighting destiny” story, the sequel deepens its worldbuilding with more mythological elements, larger conflicts, and a richer exploration of Ne Zha and Ao Bing’s friendship. Sharing a body for much of the film, their bond is tested in meaningful ways, creating both tension and heartwarming moments.
The dragons, who were more background players in the first film, are given a central role this time, providing both narrative weight and some of the film’s most spectacular visuals. The humor carries that distinct Asian cinema “cheese” that fans of anime or wuxia will recognize—sometimes a little hit or miss, but mostly endearing and charming.
The final hour of Ne Zha 2 is pure animated chaos in the best way—nonstop, jaw-dropping action paired with powerful storytelling. The imagery is so striking that many sequences feel instantly iconic, the kind of scenes fans will want as wallpapers or posters for years to come. It’s easily some of the best animated action I’ve seen not just this year, but in years.
Ne Zha 2 is a near-flawless animated epic—visually stunning, emotionally resonant, and bursting with imagination. While not every story beat lands perfectly and some supporting characters could have been fleshed out more, the sheer scale and ambition of this sequel is unmatched. It squashes much of the competition in animation this year, proving that Chinese animation can rival (and even surpass) Hollywood’s biggest offerings.
With its massive box office success and A24’s push in the U.S., this franchise is only just getting started. If this is what they achieved with Ne Zha 2, I can only imagine what Ne Zha 3 will deliver.
Rating: 9/10