Review | Nezha film review: Chinese animated fantasy blockbuster about demons and gods is funny, energetic and family-friendly

Nezha tells the story of a boy possessed by a demon before he was born, but grew to become a fearsome immortal

This animated tale looks bright and attractive, but young audiences may struggle to follow the film’s intricacies

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A still from the animated film Nezha (category IIA, Mandarin and Cantonese), directed by Jiaozi.

Published: 11:00am, 14 Jan 2020Updated: 11:11am, 14 Jan 2020

3/5 stars

Following a record-breaking release in the mainland last summer, which ended with Nezha crossing US$700 million to become the second most successful film of all time at China’s domestic box office, Hong Kong audiences now get the chance to experience Jiaozi’s animated fantasy blockbuster for themselves.

Very loosely inspired by Xu Zhonglin’s 16th century novel, Investiture of the Gods, Nezha tells the origin story of the eponymous mythological hero, who was possessed by a demon before he was even born, but grew to become a fearsome immortal, and protector of his homeland.

Realised in vivid colours and attractive computer animation, Nezha smooths over the rough, violent edges of its hero’s journey to deliver an energetic, family-friendly adventure just in time for the Lunar New Year holiday. Young audiences will doubtless delight at the precocious antics of the pint-sized protagonist, but may struggle to follow the intricacies of the film’s fantastical foundations.

Opening with a barrage of backstory, Nezha details how a greedy chaos pearl absorbed the essence of the sun and the moon, before being broken in two by heaven’s Supreme Lord.

One half, the Spirit Pearl, is stolen by an emissary of the Dragon King and taken to the underworld, while the other half, the Demon Pill, finds its way into the body of Lady Yin’s unborn son.