International Cinema @ SUU screening

(2019) – China – animation / fantasy / adventure / action

Languages: Mandarin (110 minutes)

Synopsis: Ne Zha (2019) reimagines the classic Chinese myth of the mischievous child-deity as a coming-of-age fantasy centered on a boy fated to become a demon. Born with a cursed destiny and feared by everyone in his village, Ne Zha must choose whether to embrace the darkness imposed on him or forge his own path toward heroism. The film blends humor, emotional depth, and dynamic action as it follows Ne Zha’s struggle for identity and acceptance.

What sets Ne Zha apart is its groundbreaking technical achievement within Chinese animation. The film features fluid, high-energy action sequences crafted with advanced 3D animation techniques, including complex particle effects, expressive facial modeling, and richly textured world-building. Its visual style blends traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern cinematic flair, resulting in compositions that feel both mythic and contemporary.