Why Ne Zha (2019) Succeeds where Disney Fails

Disney has been on top of the world for the past 15 years. Of the ten highest-grossing movies of all time, eight of them are owned by Disney in some capacity. Their dominance in the animation world alone has gone unchallenged. But given enough time, even the mightiest of empires can be toppled. Case in point, the current fifth highest-grossing animated film of all time is not a Disney film. That film is Ne Zha, a Chinese-made film. But despite this monumental success, Ne Zha has flown under most Western audiences’ radar. And I think that’s an injustice.

Long ago, the Supreme Lord Tianzun and his disciples, Taiyi Zhenren and Shen Gongbao, defeat a powerful Chaos Pearl wreaking havoc across the world. Lord Tianzen splits it into the Spirit Orb and the Chaos Orb. The former is to be reincarnated as Li Jing’s child, while the latter is cursed to be destroyed in three years. However, the jealous Shen Gongbao steals the Spirit Orb and swaps it with the Chaos Orb. This results in the latter being born as Li Jing’s child, Ne Zha, making him demonic and marked for death. However, Li Jing and his wife, Lady Yin, refuse to abandon their child and raise him to be a protector instead of a destroyer. Meanwhile, the Spirit Orb is reincarnated as the powerful Ao Bing, who is destined to clash with Ne Zha.

Animated films are especially notable for introducing stories from either foreign cultures or much older civilizations. Just take a look at Disney’s Encanto or Pixar’s Coco for reference. This is a very good way to introduce the rich, engaging, and complex stories from these cultures in a visually appealing medium to people who’d otherwise never hear of them. And when done well, they can easily become fan favorites. Ne Zha is actually closer to a DreamWorks picture rather than a Disney one, both tonally and thematically. Its story is centered on an outsider trying to find acceptance, much like Po’s story in Kung Fu Panda, Hiccup’s in How to Train Your Dragon, or Shrek’s from…Shrek. It also follows a strong theme of “choosing your own fate” that further pushes it away from more traditional Disney stories. And much like the Shrek films, Ne Zha likes to incorporate gags and references to other films. For example, when Ne Zha fully takes human form, he assumes the T-800 pose, complete with a crater forming underneath him as a traditional Chinese rendition of the “Terminator Suite” plays over the scene.

Despite being thematically heavy, the movie is also frequently juxtaposed by a goofy and crude sense of humor that easily sends you into a gut-busting fit of laughter! For example, the opening fight between Lord Tianzun and his disciples against the Chaos Pearl is initially framed to be this epic clash of the forces of good and evil. Yet when we finally see Taiyi make his epic entrance, we’re surprised by his silly and lackadaisical personality in stark contrast to Shen Gongbao’s stoic and composed one. Despite his innate power, Taiyi is also a drunk (who even gives his flying pig liquor) and a goofball who doesn’t take his work or himself too seriously. When Ne Zha is born and begins terrorizing the baby shower guests, he barrels towards a group of women who scream and hide behind a big, burly-looking man. You might think this man will try to stop the blazing ball of fire rushing towards him, but he lets out an even shriller scream before hiding behind the women! And these are just a small handful of examples.

Ne Zha is also one of the most aesthetically gorgeous and fluidly animated films I’ve ever seen. Everything, from the rich and vivid colors to the unique character designs, is nothing short of pure eye protein! Even though the settings are computer generated, they are all brimming with character and feel lived-in, from the lush, rolling mountains of the Shang Dynasty to the ethereal and dreamlike Heavenly Forbidden City. You can also see just how much care to detail was put into the movement, especially in the fight choreography, which blends traditional Chinese Wuxia action with its mythological source’s fantastical edge. We see this on full display during the film’s climax, where Ne Zha’s blazing fiery spear clashes against Ao Bing’s icy draconic power. It’s unlike the clean and digitized modern Japanese anime style, nor is it like the blockier, computer-generated look of Western animation. Rather, it marries both styles while still remaining distinctly its own.

Since both Ne Zha and Ao Bing were born from the two halves of the Chaos Pearl, they are metaphorically two sides of the same coin, Yin and Yang. Ne Zha is mischievous, moody, and occasionally outright vicious, while Ao Bing is kind-hearted, respectful, and responsible. Even though Ao Bing was born to be Ne Zha’s greatest enemy, he is also his first true friend because he understands the same loneliness that Ne Zha endured. This dynamic is a staple in most Shōnen (action) anime, but nowhere is it more prevalent than in both Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. Ao Bing and Ne Zha’s relationship perfectly mirrors Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha’s relationship, and it’s their conflicting natures that push each other to grow while also challenging their own respective worldviews. Even though this is a recycled trope, I love seeing it pop up so frequently, because it reminds us that we can all be challenged to change and grow, even by those who might appear as our polar opposites.

Ne Zha made a whopping $742.7 million at the box office on a budget of only $22 million, meaning that a sequel was guaranteed. This sequel was even given over three times the original’s budget. And it certainly did not disappoint. Ne Zha 2 was released in 2025 on the very first day of Chinese New Year and was an even BIGGER box office success, garnering over $2.2 BILLION worldwide! Remember the media frenzy when K-Pop Demon Hunters was the most-streamed movie on Netflix, with 236 million views, and made $25 million at the box office in its limited theatrical release? Well, Ne Zha 2 beat the likes of Disney’s Frozen II and Pixar’s Inside Out 2 at the box office in just three short weeks. This makes it not just the first non-American movie to make over $2 billion but also the highest-grossing animated movie of all time!

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from discovering and watching foreign-made movies, it’s that it’s important to take that leap of faith and step out of your comfort zone. There are hundreds of thousands of movies out there just begging to be seen. And in an age where Disney and Pixar seem to dominate the animation world, Ne Zha is existing proof that not all of the greatest animated films come out of Hollywood. Brimming with absolutely gorgeous animation, realistic and engaging characters, and an emotional story buoyed by powerful themes of self-discovery and acceptance, Ne Zha is one of the best animated films I’ve seen, and it will remain one of my favorite animated films for many years to come!