Ne Zha; Divine Action and Heart

By: Craig McPherson

Ne Zha is a 2019 Chinese animated film. The film revolves around Ne Zha, a boy accidentally born from the Demon Pill, an orb of powerful, yet dangerous energy. Not only is he cursed to die on his third birthday, but he is also feared and despised by the people of his community, Chentang Pass. Taiyi Zhenren, a disciple of the Supreme Lord of Heaven, was partially responsible for the accident. To try and repent for his mistake, he attempts to mentor Ne Zha, shaping him into a hero for his community. Can the aggressive, impulsive Ne Zha become a hero before he is destined to die? 

The way Ne Zha’s story is told can be described as a typical misunderstood hero’s journey, similar to other films like Wreck-it-Ralph or Megamind. As a matter of fact, one of the main flaws of the movie, as a whole, would be how it feels like a more basic version of the type of plot these movies would have. More specifically, the hero, due to their background or origins, is shunned by society and labeled a villain, so they behave like one. There is also a lack of trope subversions, where most plot points are played completely straight. Not to mention, the humor is mostly very crude, potty humor. Personally, I don’t feel the comedy is a complete failure, since there were a few moments that can be amusing, but it’s an overall mixed bag. Despite these flaws, the story undoubtedly has some great qualities. Whenever there is a fantastical confrontation, there is always an engaging action scene. These standout moments are achieved through some great directing and cinematography. However, one of the greatest things about Ne Zha would have to be its themes of destiny and identity, as well as some equally emotional moments. The emotional core of Ne Zha is certainly strong enough to keep itself engaging, focusing on Ne Zha’s plight, as well as his relationships with those he cares about. 

The greatest aspect of Ne Zha would undoubtedly be the animation. The animation on the characters has some very nice variety, where more eccentric, divine characters like Ne Zha or Taiyi are generally more cartoony. While the more emotional, grounded characters like Ne Zha’s parents are more realistic. The settings, as well as backgrounds, are very grand and picturesque. They effectively capture the places described in Ancient Chinese folklore. It is also because of the visuals that the action scenes manage to be as appealing as they are. Elements such as fire, ice, or lightning are very well rendered, and the animation on the characters becomes much more exciting. The absolute peak of the visuals would have to be the finale, where the use of effects, character animation, and world building all work together to craft an epic, emotional finale. 

The characters are what carry the strong emotional core. Ne Zha may seem like a malevolent brat who constantly lashes out, but he lives a tragic life. He has very little time to live, and most people around him often shame him for something that wasn’t his fault. Deep down, he just wants to be accepted. The other characters who contribute to the film’s heart the most would have to be his parents; Li Jing and Lady Yin. They are both highly respected members of the community, but Ne Zha’s chaos often causes problems for them. Despite this, they love their son, and want him to have a good life. There is also a twist involving Li Jing during the climax, which is possibly the most emotional part of the whole story. However, I feel that the other major characters are written at least somewhat weaker. There is Ao Bing, who was born for the Spirit Pearl, a more benevolent counterpart to the Demon Pill. They befriend each other about halfway through the film. However, due to their origins, they are tragically destined to be sworn rivals. I feel he was simply not developed enough, or was introduced too late, to be an effective conflicted antagonist. Additionally, there are also his father, Ao Guang, and Shen Gong Bao. They are the main antagonists of the film, who want to see to it that Ne Zha dies and that Chentang Pass is destroyed. They have their own, restive, complex motives for this, but the film gives them insufficient attention, which causes them to feel like nothing more than the standard villains who want to kill the hero. 

While it may not be perfect, Ne Zha is still a strong piece of Chinese Animation. The story can be a bit basic, and the humor can be unappealing. In spite of these aspects, it still has incredible action, world building, and heart. I would have to give Ne Zha an 8/10.