Ne zha is a very cool and popular animation based on the Chinese historical folklore. I thought I was going to watch a beautiful Chinese animation with some ridiculous supernatural powers, funny characters and massive action sequences, and yeah, it was all of that but i also got more out of it. I also got a story about a child who spends most of his life being hated for something he never chose. Its like hating a child for a disability he/she didn’t choose for themselves. It was actually kind of like Naruto if you think about it. Ne Zha is an incredibly entertaining movie, but underneath all the fantasy and comedy, it is a story much deeper than that.
The foundation of the story is fascinating. Ne Zha is born from a powerful spiritual force and is immediately destined for something extraordinary, but unfortunately, he is also destined to be feared as a result of that, because of the nature of the power inside him, everyone believes that he is a demon who will eventually bring destruction. The sad part is that Ne Zha hasn't actually done anything to deserve their hatred. He is just a child but people look at him and see a monster. They stay away from him, talk about him like he is a danger to every one around him for something he hasn’t even done. His destiny had already been painted black.
And for those that have watched Naruto, you can understand the background of the story, because they are both very similar. He becomes angry because he is lonely and has already been judged bad. He becomes rebellious because nobody wants to understand him. He acts out because being hated is easier to deal with when you pretend that you don't care.
There are moments where his behaviour is genuinely annoying i will admit but then you remember why he is like that. This is a kid who has basically grown up without the acceptance that most children take for granted. So instead of trying to prove everyone wrong he accepts what they have labelled him and for some time, even though he doesn’t want to. He becomes the monster they made.
His parents are probably the emotional heart of the entire movie for me. Despite everything they are told about their son, they never stop loving him. His mother especially broke my heart because she understands that her son is being rejected by the entire community, yet she continues trying to make him happy. She doesn't care about what everyone else thinks. She sees her child and his innocence.
That relationship made some of the emotional moments hit much harder because Ne Zha knows that his parents are essentially the only people who truly believe in him and care for him There is something incredibly sad about watching a child who has been rejected by the world still trying to find a reason to believe that he belongs in it. The movie could have easily made this just another chosen-one story, but instead it makes Ne Zha's journey much more personal.
Then there is Ao Bing, Ao Bing and Ne zha appear to be complete opposites, both of them have expectations placed on their shoulders. Both are carrying the weight of their families and their destinies. Both have people who have already decided what their futures should look like. Ne Zha for one spends his entire life being told what he is, and eventually he has to make the decision to define himself.
The animation is absolutely incredible too. Some of the action sequences are completely insane. The fights represent everything they have been carrying throughout the story and the movie starts becoming even more emotional towards the end. Without spoiling anything, I will just say that the final part genuinely got to me.
I genuinely loved this movie and its one that i had put off watching for quite some time. It is funny, beautiful and most importantly chaotic but it also has a heart. Genuinely recommend this if you are into animations
Image sourced from : https://www.pinterest.com/pin/892135007449373077/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10627720/mediaindex/?ref_=mv?ref_=mv_sm
Rating: 80/100
Originally posted through scrobble.life/movies.