Chinese animation "Ne Zha 2," which claimed the top spot at the global box office last year beating "Zootopia 2" and "Avatar 3," is set to open in Korea on the 25th, drawing attention to its potential performance.
Based on the Ming Dynasty novel "Erta Investiture of the Gods," this fantasy martial arts film follows Ne Zha, who was born different from others but defies the destiny the world has set for him. The adaptation of a Chinese classic featuring a relatable, distinctive character rather than a typical hero is cited as a key factor in its popularity.
With a production budget of $80 million (approximately 116.1 billion won), the film generated $2.2 billion (3.19 trillion won) in box office revenue last year, claiming the global top spot.
The film received acclaim for its ultra-high-resolution rendering of natural elements including water, fire, lightning, and smoke, detailed CG work on character skin, costumes, and weapons, mise-en-scène inspired by traditional Eastern painting, sculpture, and patterns, and optimized animation technology for large-scale battle scenes. Its familiar subject matter from Chinese classical literature, solid storytelling, and a wave of "patriotic viewing" propelled it to become China's highest-grossing film of all time. Some observers predict this signals China's "animation rise," demonstrating the country's growing soft power.
Jang Sung-ho, CEO of Mofac Studio who directed the animation "King of Kings," said, "The film industry has tended to underestimate China's potential, but 'Ne Zha 2' showed remarkable quality rivaling Disney and Pixar. China achieved these stunning results in a short period through full government-level support."
Will the impressive technology, Eastern sensibility, and relatable characters resonate with Korean audiences? Initial responses from preview screenings have been positive.
A representative from Movie & I, handling domestic promotion, said, "We held preview screenings for adult and family audiences, and the response was very positive. Many were particularly surprised that the action scale and technical quality matched Hollywood studios."
CJ CGV, which has exclusive distribution rights, analyzed, "IMAX, which offers overwhelming immersion, and 4DX theaters specialized for battle scenes are expected to be popular. The nearly 400,000 views on YouTube's G-Movie channel also reflects high audience interest."
However, some point to clear limitations for broader expansion. Despite opening in markets worldwide, 99% of "Ne Zha 2's" total box office revenue came from China, indicating limited global appeal. According to Box Office Mojo, this contrasts sharply with second-place "Zootopia 2" ($1.85 billion), which earned 77.1% of revenue overseas, and third-place "Avatar 3" ($1.47 billion), which earned 72.9% internationally.
For this reason, many view domestic box office prospects as uncertain. Chinese films have a weak fandom in Korea, with "Red Cliff 2" drawing 2.7 million viewers in 2009 being essentially the last hit.
Pop culture critic Kim Hun-sik said, "It may attract initial interest for being the global No. 1 hit, but Chinese animation may struggle to appeal to Korean audiences the way Disney, Pixar, or Japanese animation does."
Nevertheless, the technical prowess demonstrated in "Ne Zha 2" is expected to send shockwaves through Korea's domestic animation market. Last year, "Zootopia 2" and "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" ranked first and second at the Korean box office, showing the growing animation fandom market.
An industry insider warned, "Because we view the animation market as limited in scale, there's insufficient investment and support domestically. If we fail to respond to the growing animation market, we may end up surrendering the entire animation market to foreign productions."