Ne Zha 2's success at box-office attributed to joint efforts

A poster of Ne Zha 2 at 21st China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair on Saturday.(Photo provided by Huang Xiao/For China Daily)

For its nearly 2,000 special effects shots, Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 brought together more than 4,000 animation practitioners from 138 companies across 31 cities, working in unison to create high-quality film scenes with a unified style, according to Shi Chaoqun, the film's visual effects supervisor.

Their open-source strategy not only contributed to the visual spectacle of the animation, but also to the overall progress of China's animation industry, Shi said.

His remarks were echoed by representatives from the film's production team, distributors and the government of Sichuan province — where the film was registered — at the Forum on High-Quality Development of the Film Industry, held on Tuesday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

They said the success of Ne Zha 2 reflects joint efforts from the industry, audiences and the government, and offers valuable experience for the genre's future growth.

Around 150 industry insiders and film officials from across the country attended the event, one of 10 subforums of the Forum on Building up China's Cultural Strength 2025, held on Monday and Tuesday.

Since its Spring Festival debut, Ne Zha 2 — now China's biggest box-office sensation — has grossed nearly 15.87 billion yuan ($2.2 billion), including about 400 million yuan globally.

"Ne Zha 2 will profoundly influence the future creation, marketing and overseas distribution of Chinese films, as well as the restoration of confidence in theatrical releases worldwide," said Mao Yu, deputy head of the China Film Administration.

He noted that after decades of growth, China's market system, industry scale and audience size are now capable of supporting high-concept films — those built around clear, engaging and visually striking premises — along with the differentiated development of various genres. This, Mao said, demonstrates the advantages of China's expansive market.

To manage the work of dozens of outsourcing companies on Ne Zha 2, Shi said the team developed standardized templates for frequently used elements such as ocean waves, magma and clouds. They also shared their workflow through project documents and a white paper, which has helped smaller animation studios grow.

Ying Xujun, vice-president of CMC Inc, which handles the film's distribution in North America and Oceania, said screenings in the United States are being held in a record 1,000 cinemas. An English-dubbed version will be released soon, with initial distribution in the two key overseas markets.

To boost overseas distribution, she suggested enhancing advance planning and expanding Chinese distribution companies abroad, which could form the backbone of a global distribution network.

According to Gao Zhongwei, executive deputy head of the publicity department of the Sichuan provincial committee of the Communist Party of China, the province provided a 15 million yuan subsidy for Ne Zha 2 in 2022, along with free workspaces and fast-tracking for its premiere. The film will also receive a 6 million yuan box-office bonus.

Gao said Sichuan has introduced a range of financial support measures and preferential policies to foster the film industry's growth, including talent development, market expansion and overseas promotion.