Action
Adventure
Review: ‘Ne Zha II’ is a Superb Sequel that Delivers an Entertaining Balance of Childish Humor, Heartfelt Emotion and Exciting Action
August 14, 2025Ben MK
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Once the domain of powerhouse studios like Pixar and Dreamworks Animation, computer-animated feature films have come a long way since the '90s. And with the advent of faster, more powerful tools available at animators' fingertips, so too has the divide separating big budget productions from smaller, more independent fare grown smaller and smaller. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see almost Pixar-quality content coming from studios where, even as recently as a decade ago, it might not have been possible. And with Ne Zha II, that's exactly what writer-director Jiaozi sets out to do, in this visually stunning and action-packed sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed movies of 2019. Set not long after the events of the first installment, the story once again follows Ne Zha (Crystal Lee), the third-born son of Li Jing (Vincent Rodriguez III) and Lady Yin (Michelle Yeoh), and the reincarnation of the Demon Orb. One half of the all-powerful celestial artifact known as the Chaos Pearl, the Demon Orb was never meant to be reborn in human form. However, when the villainous Shen Gongbao (Jaden Waldman) intervened and Ne Zha entered the world, it eventually led to a climactic confrontation between Ne Zha and Ao Bing (Aleks Le), the reincarnation of the Demon Orb's diametrically opposed other half, the Spirit Pearl. The third son of Ao Guang (Li Nan), the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, Ao Bing proved to be a fierce opponent, and in the aftermath of their battle, both Ne Zha and Ao Bing were left without their physical forms. Now, with the two of them having reconciled their differences and becoming the best of friends, it's up to the immortal Taiyi Zhenren (Rick Zieff) to build them new bodies, a mammoth task that will involve a heaping dose of supernatural magic, as well as the help of many of the villagers in Chentang Pass, the peaceful city where Ne Zha and his family reside. Shen Gongbao, in the meantime, hasn't given up on his wicked ways. And when he forms an alliance with the power-hungry Dragon rulers of all four seas, he uses their abilities to opens up a portal to their underwater kingdom, weaponizing the lava that boils beneath the ocean floor and the monsters that dwell there to attack Chentang Pass. What Shen Gongbao and Ao Guang don't realize, though, is that their actions would inadvertently interrupt Ao Bing's rejuvenation process, putting his spirit in danger of being obliterated forever. And after that happens, it's up to Taiyi Zhenren and Ne Zha to journey to Yuxu Palace, where they must seek the aid of the Master Immortal, Wuliang (Robert Clotworthy), in order to obtain a rare elixir that will enable Ao Bing to finally regain his physical form. It's a dangerous mission that will require Ne Zha to share his body with Ao Bing's spirit, occasionally letting him take the reins in the heat of battle. But will they be able to complete their objective before Shen Gongbao and the dragon clan destroy Chentang Pass? And can Wuliang and his ruthless demon hunters truly be trusted? Or does the Master Immortal have a more sinister plan in mind? A huge step up from its predecessor, both in terms of story and eye candy, the result is as visually impressive as its plot is densely layered. Nonetheless, for viewers who may not have seen or heard of the first film, being up to speed on the events of that chapter of the story proves not to be a prerequisite to enjoying this new installment. Bursting with lively characters, scene upon scene of jaw-dropping animation, and enough mythology-fuelled narrative to fill not one but two fantasy-themed sequels, Ne Zha II is the rare kind of animated adventure that oftentimes exceeds its live-action counterparts, delivering an entertaining balance of childish humor, heartfelt emotion and exciting set pieces that will appeal to both young and old alike. What genuinely sets this movie apart from other animated releases, however, is its gargantuan scope. And while some genre entries might merely aspire to such heights, Jiaozi and company actually achieve it, thanks to their impressive grasp of the medium and their masterful understanding of what makes a fun and enthralling cinematic experience. It all adds up to a superb sequel that completely eclipses the original, shattering all expectations and proving that you don't have to be a part of an existing franchise or have the backing of a major Hollywood studio to become the number one animated film of all time. Most of all, however, Ne Zha II is the perfect example of how to marry both substance and style to create something wholly unique and thoroughly compelling. And although animation in general is sure to continue to grow by leaps and bounds in the coming years, it's a guarantee that moviegoers will look back on this as one of the true benchmarks of the genre. Ne Zha II releases August 22nd, 2025 from A24. The film has an MPAA rating of PG-13 for sequences of action violence, language and thematic elements. Its runtime is 2 hrs. 23 min. |
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