Get your tickets now, they are almost sold out in my area.
Chinese film, television, music
- Thread starter ABC78
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"Over 4,000 filmmakers from 138 Chinese companies collaborated to create "Ne Zha 2," the country's animated blockbuster. Their collective efforts and dedications have resulted in a visually stunning masterpiece that keeps captivating domestic and international audiences. "
This is like Huawei and the Mate 60 from the semicon industry standpoint. One company and one defining project that uplifts an entire industry.
Really the second epochal-type happening in Chinese entertainment in just the past 6 months -- Black Myth Wukong is of course the other massive sea-change event.
Nezha 2 is just the first of many $1billion hits that will come from the maturation of these companies in the industries of film, television, dramas, music and gaming. They are all interconnected. Many of the 138 companies that worked on Nezha are involved with gaming too.
We are living in historic times, friends!
$2B box office should be crossed within a month but having an extra few weeks doesn't hurt to make an historic run godly epic!
cdramas are becoming popular in Pakistan, which surprised me considering the language barrier.
In my opinion, the main reason for dramas of one particular country become popular in other country should be the life style within. Those dramas present a vision of comprehensive solution of modern life.
Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" has dethroned Disney's 2024 picture "Inside Out 2" to become the highest-grossing animated movie of all time globally. The film's design draws inspiration from cultural relics, influencing the appearance of its characters, venues, and magical artifacts. Explore the historical treasures that shaped its visual storytelling.
Observation.
It has been two weeks since Nezha 2 has been available in US theaters and so far, still not enough critic reviews for a Rottentomatoes rating. Any movie from any other country, be it a Korean, Indian, or Brazilian production by the first week usually has a tomato rating even for just small indie productions, nevermind the biggest blockbuster in that country's history. But you're telling me that an animated movie beat Inside Out 2 at the box office and only 5 US critics, whose job it is to make the public aware of lesser known movies, were bothered to check it out in a current movie landscape where the only other big title is Captain America?
This is the thing. People might complain about how difficult it is for even good Chinese cultural products to penetrate the Western market, but one has to realize how hard the American media apparatus itself promotes the cultural products of nations it is friendly to. Bollywood movies are always getting promoted by American critics, even if its usually to no avail since its still mostly Indian diasporas watching them and K-Dramas only got as big as they are now thanks to Netflix. Even with Japan, anime and Japanese video games have always had their Western fans, but actual Japanese traditions, history, and the attractiveness of Japan as a vacation destination only became ubitquitous in the US thanks to stuff like The Last Samurai and Shogun.
It has been two weeks since Nezha 2 has been available in US theaters and so far, still not enough critic reviews for a Rottentomatoes rating. Any movie from any other country, be it a Korean, Indian, or Brazilian production by the first week usually has a tomato rating even for just small indie productions, nevermind the biggest blockbuster in that country's history. But you're telling me that an animated movie beat Inside Out 2 at the box office and only 5 US critics, whose job it is to make the public aware of lesser known movies, were bothered to check it out in a current movie landscape where the only other big title is Captain America?
This is the thing. People might complain about how difficult it is for even good Chinese cultural products to penetrate the Western market, but one has to realize how hard the American media apparatus itself promotes the cultural products of nations it is friendly to. Bollywood movies are always getting promoted by American critics, even if its usually to no avail since its still mostly Indian diasporas watching them and K-Dramas only got as big as they are now thanks to Netflix. Even with Japan, anime and Japanese video games have always had their Western fans, but actual Japanese traditions, history, and the attractiveness of Japan as a vacation destination only became ubitquitous in the US thanks to stuff like The Last Samurai and Shogun.
In the legendary animation Ne Zha 2, numerous treasures of ancient cultural relics are brought to life, traveling through thousands of years and "resurrecting" on the silver screen. Let's take a closer look at these cultural elements and the real-life prototypes that inspired them.
The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has captured the hearts of audiences since its release during Spring Festival this year. As of Feb 22, the film's box office revenue has surpassed 13 billion yuan (about $1.8 billion), cementing its place as China's all-time top-grossing film.
In this legendary animation, numerous treasures of ancient cultural relics are brought to life, traveling through thousands of years and "resurrecting" on the silver screen. Let's take a closer look at these cultural elements and the real-life prototypes that inspired them.
Left: A screenshot from the trailer of Ne Zha 2 [Photo/mtime.com] Right: Boshan censer from Hebei Museum [Photo/hebeimuseum.org]
Seven-colored lotus
In Ne Zha 2, the seven-colored lotus, a multilayered lotus root, plays a pivotal role in reconstructing the bodies of the protagonists, Ne Zha and Ao Bing. This fantastical concept is inspired by the Boshan censer, a 2,000-year-old gilt-bronze incense burner housed at the Hebei Museum in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province.
The Boshan censer was an incense burner used indoors during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 24), named for its resemblance to the mythical immortal mountain.
Above: A screenshot from the film Ne Zha (2019) shows the Barrier Beasts. [Photo/CGTN] Below: (from left) A large bronze mask, a gold-masked bronze head and a bronze eagle-shaped bell from the Sanxingdui Museum [Photo/sxd.cn]
Barrier beasts
If you've seen both Ne Zha films, you're sure to remember the quirky and charming barrier beasts—comical creatures that serve as guardians. These creatures bear a striking resemblance to ancient relics from the Sanxingdui culture.
When visiting the Sanxingdui Museum in Sichuan province, you'll recognize the similarity between the barrier beasts and items like the gold-masked bronze head, large bronze masks and the bronze eagle-shaped bell.
Above: Screenshots from videos on the design and production of Ne Zha 2 show the Tianyuan tripod and a close-up view of its top. [Photo/CGTN] Below: (from left) A flat foot tripod with dragon patterns from Shanghai Museum [Photo/shanghaimuseum.net]; a bronze dun from Sichuan Museum [Photo/scmuseum.cn]
Tianyuan tripod
The Tianyuan tripod, known as the "foundation of the Chan sect" in the film, is a key alchemical tool in the Jade Xu Palace. Its design draws inspiration from the flat, spherical bellies and column feet of bronze tripods used during the Shang and Zhou dynasties (c.16th century-256 BC). The tripod's intricate decoration includes common motifs like the Taotie (a mythological creature) and cloud-thunder patterns, which were popular during these dynasties.
The tripod was a symbol of power and status in ancient China, often used in ritualistic ceremonies. Its presence in the film reflects the high position and supreme authority of the Chan sect within the Jade Xu Palace. Moreover, the overall rounded shape of the Tianyuan tripod mirrors the dun, an ancient luxury food vessel associated with the Shu royal family.
Above: Screenshots from the trailer of Ne Zha 2 show Ao Guang's sword (L) and Lady Yin's sword. [Photo/mtime.com] Below: (from left) A jade sword from Yinxu Museum [Photo/ayyx.com]; Sword of Goujian from Hubei Provincial Museum [Photo/hbsbwg.cjyun.org]
Swords of Ao Guang and Lady Yin
The Dragon King Ao Guang's large sword is striking, resembling a Shang Dynasty (c.16th century-11th century BC) jade weapon from the Yinxu Museum in Anyang city, Henan province. Its blade features an upward-pointed tip, serrations along the back, and a slightly tapered belly—typical characteristics of Shang Dynasty bronze daggers.
Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin, wields a sword resembling the 2,500-year-old sword of the legendary King Goujian, housed in the Hubei Provincial Museum.
Above: A scene from the film Ne Zha 2 [Photo/CGTN] Below: (from left) "Ruihe Tu" by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty [Photo/WeChat account of Liaoning Provincial Museum]; A chiwen, an ornamental tile that decorates both ends of the ridgepole on the roof [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily]
Jade Xu Palace
When Ne Zha travels to the Jade Xu Palace, a group of immortal cranes flies in the sky, with two of them landing on the palace roof's chiwen (decorative ridge-top creature). This scene is inspired by the famous painting "Ruihe Tu" by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Zhao Ji. "Ruihe Tu" depicts a scene of a group of cranes flying over the palace in Bianjing (today's Kaifeng) on the night of the Lantern Festival during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127). Eventually, two cranes land on the palace's chiwen.
Chiwen is an important decorative element on the ridges of ancient Chinese roofs, often sculpted in the shape of a dragon. It symbolizes the prevention of evil and fire, serving as an essential feature in ancient architecture. Zhao Ji painted this scene on silk, symbolizing heavenly blessings, peace and prosperity for the country and its people.