Ne Zha 2: Afterthoughts
(by Sophia Zheng, Grade 7)
The 2019 Chinese animated film Ne Zha is back with a second movie: Ne Zha 2. Released on January 29, 2025, in China and February 14 in the United States, the film made an astonishing $1.5 billion within a month! Not only did it become China’s highest-grossing movie of all time, but it also became the first non-Hollywood film to cross the billion-dollar mark and is now the highest-grossing animated film globally of all time, passing even some of the most successful Hollywood animated films. So, what makes this sequel so special?
The first movie follows Ne Zha, a rebellious yet misunderstood young boy. He was born from the demon pearl, and because of this, he was seen as a monster. As the story continues, we can see how Ne Zha starts to fight and break through the label’s others put for him, and how he eventually earns the trust and respect of others. The second movie is even more extraordinary, with the plot deepening and introducing even more lessons.
Ne Zha 2 is not just visually great, but its storytelling is also incredibly impressive, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats with many unexpected plot twists. The pacing is faster than the first movie, making the storyline more gripping and engaging. As we follow Ne Zha’s journey, we see him continue to defy his fate, but with even more determination.
One of the most powerful aspects of Ne Zha 2 is its deep moral lessons that are shown throughout the film. At its heart, the movie emphasizes the importance of defying fate and carving your own path. Ne Zha continues to struggle with his label as a monster, but he breaks through those expectations and refuses to let his past define his future.
The film also highlights the value of teamwork and relationships. Ne Zha's growth is not just about his individual strength but about the bonds he forms with those around him. Throughout the movie, it’s clear that working together and relying on others is crucial to overcoming challenges. Whether it's his family, friends, or other allies, Ne Zha learns that collaboration is needed to achieve greater goals. Sometimes, knowing when to ask for help is of greater value than independence.
Finally, Ne Zha 2 beautifully shows sacrifice and love from family. The relationship between Ne Zha and his parents is at the center of the story, showcasing the unconditional love and sacrifices parents make for their children. Ne Zha's journey is not only about his own growth but about recognizing the sacrifices made by those who care for him. This theme speaks to the depth of familial bonds and the lengths people will go to protect and support one another. As his mother says (殷夫人)： Mother has never cared whether you are a fairy or a demon. Mother only knows that you are my son, and I will always love you. This line powerfully captures pure and unconditional love from parents.
圖源自網路
Another thing that makes Ne Zha 2 such a great movie was its visuals. The animations, vibrant colors, etc. really make watching this movie an incredible experience. Especially during fight scenes, the animation was really stunning. The rich colors and intricate details on not just the backgrounds and set pieces, but also on the characters looked really refined and improved from the first movie.
One of the elements that really stand out in both the first and second movie is the humor. One of the best parts of the humor is how it contrasts with the more serious moments, making the emotional scenes feel even more powerful when they do come. Moreover, the humorous elements are never forced, instead feeling natural to the storyline and enhancing the overall viewing experience. Along with this, the playful Chinese wording really ties everything together. It’s something that the translation can’t really get right, keeping the originality of the wordplay.
Ultimately, Ne Zha 2 is a really incredible sequel to the original first movie, but it is so much more than just that. With its perfect blend of action, humor, vibrant animation, the film's fast-paced and engaging plot, themes that really stick with you, visually captivating, emotionally rich, and culturally diverse story, Ne Zha 2 stands as a remarkable achievement in Chinese animation, offering both entertainment and valuable life lessons, while keeping its place as an impressive film in both the animated and global film industries.
《哪吒 2之魔童鬧海》觀影感
Sophia Zheng， 7年級（谷歌翻譯版）
《哪吒 2之魔童鬧海》是2019年中國大熱電影《哪吒之魔童降世》的續作。該片於 2025 年 1 月 29 日在中國上映，2 月 14 日在美國上映，一個月內票房收入高達 15 億美元！它不僅成為中國有史以來票房最高的電影，而且成為首部突破 10 億美元大關的非好萊塢電影，目前是有史以來全球票房最高的動畫電影，甚至超過了眾多成功的好萊塢動畫電影。那麼，這部續集有什麼特別之處呢？
第一部電影講述了一個叛逆卻被誤解年輕男孩哪吒的故事。他生於妖珠，因而被視為怪物。隨著故事的繼續，我們可以看到哪吒如何開始戰鬥並突破別人給他貼上的標籤，以及最終如何贏得他人的信任和尊重。第二部電影相比更加精彩，故事更引人入勝，也讓我有更多額外收穫。
《哪吒2》不僅視覺效果出色，情節也令人印象深刻、扣人心絃，許多意想不到的情節轉折讓觀眾坐立難安。節奏比第一部電影快，隨著我們跟隨哪吒的旅程，看到他繼續挑戰命運，個性也更加堅定。
《哪吒2》最優秀方面之一是貫穿整部電影的深刻道德教訓。從本質上講，這部電影強調了挑戰命運、開闢自己道路的重要性。哪吒繼續與自己作為怪物的標籤作鬥爭，但他突破了這些期望，拒絕讓過去決定自己的未來。
這部電影還強調了團隊合作和人際關係的價值。哪吒的成長不僅關乎他個人的力量，還關乎他與周圍人建立的紐帶。在整部電影中，很明顯，合作和依靠他人對於克服挑戰至關重要。無論是家人、朋友還是其他盟友，哪吒都明白，要實現更大的目標，合作是必不可少的。有時，知道何時尋求幫助比獨立更有價值。
《哪吒2》完美地展現了家庭的犧牲和愛。哪吒和父母的關係是故事的核心，展示了父母對孩子的無條件的愛和犧牲。哪吒的旅程不僅關乎他自己的成長，也關乎對那些關心他的人的犧牲的認可。這個主題說明了家庭紐帶的深度，以及人們為了保護和支援彼此會付出多大的努力。正如他的母親殷夫人所說：母親從來不關心你是仙還是魔；母親只知道你是我的兒子，我會永遠愛你。這句話有力地捕捉到了父母純潔無條件的愛。
另一件讓《哪吒2》如此出色的關鍵點是它的視覺效果。動畫、鮮豔的色彩真的讓觀看這部電影成為一種不可思議的體驗。尤其是在打鬥場景中，動畫真的令人驚歎。不僅背景和佈景上色彩豐富、細節複雜，而且人物的形象也比第一部電影看起來更加精緻和進步。
第一部和第二部電影中真正脫穎而出的元素之一是幽默。幽默最棒的部分之一是它與更嚴肅的時刻形成鮮明對比，讓情感場景出現時感覺更加強烈。此外，幽默元素從不牽強，而是自然融入故事情節，增強了整體觀看體驗。除此之外，俏皮的中文措辭真的把一切都聯絡在一起了。這是翻譯無法真正做到的，保持了文字遊戲的原創性。
最終，《哪吒之魔童降世》是一部非常精彩的續集，但它遠不止於此：
《哪吒2》完美融合了動作、幽默、生動的動畫、快節奏引人入勝的劇情、令人難忘的主題、視覺上的震撼、情感上的豐富和文化上的多元，這是中國動畫的傑出成就，既提供了娛樂，又提供了寶貴的人生教訓，在動畫和全球電影界都佔據著令人印象深刻的地位。
圖片來源於官方電影哪吒之魔童鬧海