The China Cultural Centre in Malta hosted the premiere of Ne Zha 2, the monumental 2025
Chinese animated fantasy action-adventure film, at the Eden Cinema in St Julian’s on April 30.
Written and directed by acclaimed film-maker Jiaozi (also known as Yang Yu), the sequel to the 2019 global hit Ne Zha continues the story of the rebellious demon-child Ne Zha and his former rival, the dragon prince Ao Bing.
Following a catastrophic heavenly lightning strike, both heroes are reborn in a shared body and must undergo three perilous trials to secure a new future – not only for themselves, but for the world they hope to protect.
Through themes of destiny, identity and inner transformation, the film invites viewers to reflect on the power of free will, self-determination and the courage to challenge tradition.
“The sequel took five years to produce, engaging over 4,000 artists across 138 animation studios”
Rooted in Xu Zhonglin’s 16th-century classic novel Investiture of the Gods, Ne Zha 2 diverges from traditional retellings to create an emotionally resonant narrative filled with family bonds, friendship and moral complexity.
The film questions the binary of good and evil, showing how perceived villains may be guided by justice, and how traditional heroes are not always what they seem.
The sequel took five years to produce, engaging over 4,000 artists across 138 animation studios – double the workforce of the first film. With more than 2,400 shots and nearly 2,000 special effects sequences, Ne Zha 2 sets a new benchmark in animation.
Since its release on January 29, coinciding with the Chinese New Year, the film has garnered critical acclaim and shattered box office records. With global earnings surpassing $2.1 billion against an $80 million budget, Ne Zha 2 is now the highest-grossing animated film of all time and the first non-English language film to cross the $2 billion mark.
Maltese audiences have responded enthusiastically to the film, describing it as breathtaking, emotionally powerful and refreshingly different from typical animated blockbusters.
This article was provided by the China Cultural Centre in Malta.
