Reconstructing Myth and Identity: A Study of Ne Zha: The Demonic Children Roar
Abstract
The animated feature Ne Zha achieved record-breaking commercial success in China and initiated dialogues about its cultural determinants. This paper investigates the film's success based on three dimensions of its content. First, the film reimagines Ne Zha from a character with a tragic past into a hero of individual rebellion, making his self-determined character relatable to contemporary youth. Second, the paper deconstructs the family narrative. It challenges patriarchal paradigms and emphasizes emotional dialogue, reflecting the evolution of Chinese family ethics. Finally, the film uses a unique cultural aesthetic that synthesizes the classical East with contemporary digital technology to demonstrate cultural confidence. The paper concludes that the film's success was a merger of cultural innovation, industrial capacity, and compelling emotional content. The film serves as a powerful model for creatively transforming traditional IP and marks a direction for developing Chinese narratives beyond China.
References
- National Film Administration. (2025). China film audience satisfaction survey report 2025. China Film Press, Beijing.
- Contemporary Cinema. (2025). Special issue on Ne Zha 2: Narrative innovation and cultural identity. Contemporary Cinema, 2025, 60-75.
- Wang, X.M. (2025). The modern transformation of traditional cultural elements in Chinese animation: A case study of Ne Zha 2. Journal of Contemporary Cinema, 43, 45-58.
- Peking University Institute of Cultural Industries. (2025). Annual report on the development of Chinese animation IPs. Peking University Press, Beijing.
- China Film Association. (2025). Research on the industrialization and aesthetic innovation of Chinese animation. China Film Studies, 12, 112-125.
- Zheng, T.Y. (2025). Cultural discount and reverse communication: The global dissemination strategy of Ne Zha 2. International Communication Research, 9, 33-47.
- Hoskins, C., & Mirus, R. (1988). Reasons for the US dominance of the international trade in television programmes. Media, Culture & Society, 10(4), 499–515.
- Elliot, A.J. and Maier, M.A. (2014). Color psychology: Effects of perceiving color on psychological functioning in humans. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 95-120.
- Li, J. (2025). The construction of an aesthetic system for Eastern animation. Art Research, 38, 77-89.