Ne Zha 2 is one of the world’s biggest ever box office hits, but does it require watching the last movie to make sense? The third entry in the Fengshen Cinematic Universe, Ne Zha 2 proved to be a cultural juggernaut when it was released in China. Quickly becoming one of the world’s most successful films at the global box office (and faraway the most profitable animated movie ever), Ne Zha 2 is a fascinating experience for western audiences who aren’t as familiar with the legendary tales that serve as the movie’s inspiration.
With A24 bringing the animated film to the United States with a new English dub, it’s the perfect chance for curious moviegoers to see what exactly has made Ne Zha 2 such a hit. However, those prospective viewers might be hesitant to see the movie if they haven’t watched at least 2019’s Ne Zha, as well as the 2020 prequel Jiang Ziya. However, Ne Zha 2 opens with a pretty succinct intro that sums up those plotlines so that new viewers aren’t held up at all.
Ne Zha 2 Is A Direct Sequel (But Recaps Everything Pretty Quickly)
While Ne Zha 2 works better if audiences have seen Ne Zha, the sequel quickly gets new viewers up to speed so that they don’t need to see the original. Ne Zha 2 is a direct sequel to the first film, building off the conclusion that saw Ne Zha and Ao Bing sacrifice their bodies but live on as spirits.
Ne Zha 2 picks up immediately afterwards, with Taiyi struggling to create new bodies for the pair while Ao Bing’s father, the Dragon King, uses his demonic army to attack the village of Chentang Pᴀss in revenge for Ao Bing’s apparent demise. There’s a lot of backstory to run through, but Ne Zha 2 quickly dispenses with the necessary lore dump.
It helps that Ne Zha 2 leans into the cartoonish animation of the previous film, making the character personalities clear from body language and design. It’s very easy to pick up motivation from Ne Zha 2‘s characters, especially as the plot progresses and new characters are introduced with their own plans.
Ne Zha 2 is very much building on the events of the previous film, with the character arcs and dynamics reflecting the storylines established in 2019’s film. However, those arcs are very clear throughout the film. Audiences who haven’t seen Ne Zha shouldn’t have too much trouble figuring out the character arcs that build to the epic conclusion of Ne Zha 2.
Ne Zha 2 Is Improved By Watching The Original But Doesn’t Need It
Overall, Ne Zha 2 works better if audiences have seen the first film — but the movie does a good job of getting the necessary character beats across in a succinct manner for unfamiliar audiences. Ne Zha and Ao Bing’s friendship, which serves as one of the emotional bedrocks and sources of comedy in Ne Zha 2, is the core dynamic of the first film.
Their bond is more effective when it has the full context of the first film’s storyline, but Ao Bing and Ne Zha still work as foils and friends in Ne Zha 2 for unfamiliar audiences. The character dynamics are forged between the main cast in the first film, but are clear enough for even young audiences to quickly pick up and understand.
The biggest complicating factors in Ne Zha 2 for people unfamiliar with the first one are characters like Shen Gongbao and his family, who are rather bluntly fit into the movie’s narrative. However, these characters and their clear arcs in contrast to Ne Zha and his family make their place in the narrative clear without too much explanation.
Simply put, Ne Zha 2 benefits from seeing the prior film first. However, the recap at the beginning of the film and quick-paced plot quickly catch viewers up to speed. It’s also a fast-paced, fun, and even awe-inspiring adventure. It’s worth checking out Ne Zha 2 even if you haven’t seen the first film.
