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The Conversation
The Conversation
Lifestyle
Yanyan Hong, PhD Candidate in Communication and Media Studies, University of Adelaide

Ne Zha 2: the ancient philosophies behind China’s record-breaking new animated film

Ne Zha China Laozi Sun Tzu
IMDB

On the surface, Ne Zha 2: The Sea’s Fury (2025), the sequel to the 2019 Chinese blockbuster Nezha: Birth of the Demon Child, is a high-octane, action-packed and visually stunning animated spectacle, full of hilarious moments and thrilling fight scenes.

But beneath all that, it’s something much deeper: a bold re-imagining of Chinese traditional mythology, cultural history and philosophies.

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