Of course, this all comes back to R.F. Kuang’s The Poppy War trilogy, which has come to dominate my life since I began reading it. The trilogy is filled with numerous references to Chinese mythology, most notably The Investiture of the Gods or Fengshen Yanyi. This lengthy text details the overthrow of the Shang dynasty after the emperor offends Nüwa, the creator of mankind. After finishing the trilogy, I became sucked into the world of Fengshen Yanyi, scrolling through numerous Wikipedia pages to try and scratch the surface of its plot. Both pieces of literature feature Nezha, the third son of a military commander.
Reading The Poppy War came at the perfect time, right when Nezha 2 came out. The two-part film is about Nezha, a boy who was supposed to be the reincarnation of the Spirit Pearl. However, after a mix-up, he becomes the vessel for the Demon Pill. Since its release, the second movie has become one of the highest-grossing films, making more than $2 billion at the box office. Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect when I first planned to watch the movie, but it definitely exceeded my expectations.
First, the animation and attention to detail are excellent. There’s a scene where the characters are on the beach, and when they move around, the imprints in the sand are so clear. Additionally, there are multiple scenes of Ao Guang, the dragon king, in his underwater lair. Compared to the more leathery vibe of Western dragons, in Asian culture, these creatures are often pictured with ‘beards’ and iridescent scales. In Ao Guang’s scenes, you can see the individual hairs of his beard floating silkily in the water, but it’s not just his hair that is beautifully drawn. The meticulous animation of hair can be seen throughout the movie, with Nezha’s mother’s bangs and Ao Bing’s long periwinkle tresses.
Next, the writers did a great job of staying true to Nezha’s traditional story but also ensuring there was a facet of individualism in his personality to appeal to a modern audience. In Eastern cultures, there is often an emphasis on putting family first and doing what is expected of you. Nezha’s family wanted him to stay inside their home, so naturally, as a demon child does, he wanted to go outside. Feeling trapped, Nezha believes his parents are doing everything to oppress his true self. However, at the movie’s end, the extent of his parents’ sacrifice for him to be happy is revealed (but I won’t spoil that 🙃).
Even if you aren’t super into Asian culture, I would definitely recommend watching this movie, and I can’t wait for the second one to come out on streaming platforms!