As of February 27, 2025, "Nezha: The Devil Child's Sea Adventure" topped the global animation movie box office with over 13.8 billion RMB in revenue. The Nezha most people are familiar with—from emerging from a lotus, stepping on fire wheels, wielding a red-tasseled spear, with three heads and six arms, and possessing immense combat power—has undergone several transformations in ancient Chinese mythology. In ancient Chinese mythology, what changes have occurred in Nezha's "appearance"?
Table of Contents
1. Nezha's Evolutionary History
- 1.0 Version - A Fierce and Tall Man
- 2.0 Version - A More Diverse Folk Image
- 3.0 Version - A Rebellious and Vengeful Youth
- During the Ming and Qing dynasties
2. Most Memorable Domestic Animation Nezha
- "Havoc in Heaven" (1961) - China's first color animated feature film.
- "Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" (1979) - China's first wide-screen animated feature film.
- "Legend of the Conferred Gods" (1999) - A 100-episode TV animation adapted from the mythical novel "The Romance of the Conferred Gods".
- "The Legend of Nezha" (2003) - A large-scale animated series that tells the growth story of the young hero Nezha.
- "Nezha: The Demon Child Comes into the World" (2019) - China's first animated film to break the 5 billion RMB box office record.
- "Nezha: The Devil Child's Sea Adventure" (2025) - Creates a New Box Office Record in Chinese Film History.
3. A New Era of Chinese Animation
4. Why Nezha Captivates Global Audiences
5. The Evolution of Nezha: From Villain to Cultural Icon
6. The Future of Chinese Animation
Nezha's Evolutionary History
1.0 Version - A Fierce and Tall Man
In the early days, Nezha was depicted as a fierce, wrathful guardian deity in Buddhism. The earliest known depiction of Nezha's "chaos sea" comes from a stone case unearthed in the Northern Tower of Liaoning, showing Nezha with bulging eyes, a square face, a flame crown, armor, holding a pagoda in his left hand, gesturing with his right, and standing on auspicious clouds, ready to act.
2.0 Version - A More Diverse Folk Image
During the Tang Dynasty, Nezha was mentioned in the note novel "The True Record of the Opening of Heaven," stating that Nezha was the "son of the Heavenly King of the North." With Tang Dynasty's expansion in the Western Regions, the image of the Heavenly King of the North merged with the Tang general Li Jing, giving Nezha a "father" in the mortal world. Buddhist scriptures from the Song Dynasty further enriched Nezha's image, with the first recorded mention of Nezha "cutting flesh to return to his mother and slicing bones to return to his father" in the Zen Buddhist scripture "The Five Lamps Meet."
3.0 Version - A Rebellious and Vengeful Youth
From the Yuan to Ming dynasties, Nezha's image became more diversified, showing characteristics of both Buddhism and Taoism. In "The Comprehensive Collection of the Three Religions," Nezha was described as a "Great Immortal under the Jade Emperor," transforming from a Buddhist guardian deity into a Taoist deity. The depiction of Nezha was: "Sixty feet tall, wearing a golden wheel on his head, three heads, nine eyes, and eight arms..."
During the Ming and Qing dynasties
The popularity of novels like "Journey to the West" and "The Investiture of the Gods" solidified the image of the rebellious Nezha who wielded a fire-tipped spear and stepped on fire wheels. In "The True Form of the Investiture of the Gods," Nezha wore a diaper, becoming a "childish" toddler.
Most Memorable Domestic Animation Nezha
"Havoc in Heaven" (1961) - China's first color animated feature film
Nezha was depicted wearing a red bib, green shorts, two pairs of golden bracelets and anklets, with a bun on his head, holding a fire-tipped spear, barefoot, stepping on a pair of fire wheels, with a white body, a fierce face, and triangular eyes.
"Nezha Conquers the Dragon King" (1979) - China's first wide-screen animated feature film
Based on classical literary works, telling the story of the conflict between Li Jing's son, Nezha, and the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea.
"The Legend of the Investiture of the Gods" (1999) - A 100-episode TV animation adapted from the mythical novel "Investiture of the Gods" (Fengshen Yanyi)
"The Legend of the Investiture of the Gods" (Fengshenbang Chuanqi) is also known as "King Kong Nezha", which is a 100-episode TV animation carefully created by Shanghai Fine Arts Film Studio based on the mythical novel "Investiture of the Gods" (Fengshen Yanyi).
"The Legend of Nezha" (2003) - A large-scale animated series that tells the growth story of the young hero Nezha
This large-scale animated series that combines myths, fairy tales and legends tells the story of the growth of the little hero Nezha.
"Nezha: The Demon Child Comes into the World" (2019) - China's first animated film to break the 5 billion RMB box office record
In 2019, the box office of "Nezha: The Demon Child Comes into the World" broke 5 billion yuan, becoming the box office champion of Chinese movies that year.
"Nezha: The Devil Child's Sea Adventure" (2025) - Creates a New Box Office Record in Chinese Film History
"Nezha: The Devil Child's Sea Adventure" surpassed the box office of its predecessor "Nezha: The Demon Child Comes into the World", becoming the first film in Chinese film history and the first film in Asia to have a box office of over 10 billion yuan. "Nezha" also became China's first animated film IP with a box office of over 10 billion yuan.
A New Era of Chinese Animation
The film’s success is a testament to China’s growing confidence in “cultural nationalism.” With its vibrant traditional aesthetics and modern storytelling, *Nezha 2* redefines “Guochao” (Chinese cultural wave) by blending mythological roots with cutting-edge visuals.
The clear homage to the 1979 film Nezha Conquers the Dragon King is evident in Nezha 2. For instance, when Ao Bing controls Nezha’s physical body, his appearance—pompadour hair, sword-like eyebrows, and almond-shaped phoenix eyes—mirrors the original design. Taiyi Zhenren humorously remarks, “This looks like the genuine article!” Additionally, the Green-Haired Sea Demon’s green skin and red hair pay tribute to the 1979 version’s night demon design. In the original Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi), Ao Bing wields the Square Sky Halberd, but in Nezha 2, he uses a creative weapon: a candy cane-shaped Ice Dragon Hammer decorated with swirling patterns.
This spiritual connection to classics resonates deeply with audiences, proving that “old meets new” can thrive in today’s market.
Why Nezha Captivates Global Audiences
- Universal Hero Narrative: Nezha’s mantra—“My fate is mine to control”—empowers viewers, appealing to those seeking self-determination.
- Cultural Pride: The film taps into China’s “new nationalism,” where youth embrace traditional symbols as cool, modern trends.
- Technical Excellence: In recent years, Chinese domestically produced animated films have delved into Chinese mythology, unleashing boundless creativity and achieving awe-inspiring visual spectacles through cutting-edge technology. This has established a unique "Chineseness in animation" style that stands out globally in the genre. “Nezha 2” showcases China’s leap in creative and technical prowess.
The Evolution of Nezha: From Villain to Cultural Icon
From the rotund and mischievous child Nezha in The Monkey King (1961) to the valiant and spirited version in Nezha Conquers the Dragon King (1979), the adorable young hero in The Legend of Nezha (2003), the cool and edgy motorcycle-style Nezha in New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021), the dopey yet lovable character in When Gods Are Not Human, and the chiseled-youth-with-childlike-face figure from Ten Thousand Cold Jokes—each adaptation redefines Nezha’s image through bold creativity.
Each iteration reflects societal values, from patriotic ideals to today’s focus on individualism and social justice.
The Future of Chinese Animation
While "Nezha 2" cements China’s place in animation, challenges remain:
- Originality: Moving beyond IP adaptations to create fresh narratives.
- Global Appeal: Balancing cultural specificity with universal themes.
Particularly, as a form of cultural and artistic product, the high-quality development of Chinese animation cannot be understood as a single-dimensional or isolated goal. Instead, it should pursue the joint development and progress of market economy benefits and social/cultural values, seeking breakthroughs and innovations with a broader vision for the new era. The unprecedented success of Nezha 2 has brought new possibilities to Chinese animated filmmaking but also raised profound questions that creators must seriously address. Only by doing so can we ensure that "Nezhas" of tomorrow reach even greater heights and achieve an overall leap forward, ultimately ushering in a true golden age for the industry.
Discover Nezha-Themed Collectibles!
Nezha 2: The Demon Boy Havoc in the Sea Series Figure Blind Box Figures Set
Each box includes:
- 8 randomized miniatures (1:96 chance to unlock the rare hidden variant).
- Vivid, hand-painted designs inspired by the film’s epic visuals.
- Perfect for gifting or adding to your animation collection.
Click "Order Now" to experience the fun of unboxing!
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