Usually, everything that is popular also has an untold story of struggle, and so does Ne Zha. This Chinese animated film (after the release of Ne Zha 2) is a prime example! With its record-breaking box office success, earning $1.35 billion in just two weeks, it’s easy to overlook that even something like this had a tough start.
It turns out that the film had insane financial issues to back it up, and the fact that it even got made is a miracle in itself. So how exactly did the film tackle this huge hurdle? The story behind Ne Zha 2’s journey to the top is certainly a testament to the power of dedication and innovation!
Ne Zha Director went completely broke to make the film!
As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention”, we get to see the exact thing in the making of Ne Zha, and the Director of both the films (1 & 2), Jiaozi, is living proof of that. Jiaozi grew up in a middle-class family and didn’t even have the luxury of pursuing expensive studies in animation. But that didn’t stop him!
Instead, he turned to free online videos and tutorials and learned all the ropes by himself.
And finally, in 2009, Jiaozi’s hard work started paying off. His animated short film See Through made waves globally, snagging 30 domestic and international awards, including the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival’s special jury prize for shorts. This earned him quite a bit of fame and prize money for his future projects.
So eventually, he spent his six years of saving and finally secured financing for Ne Zha in 2015. And it just turned out to be the game-changer in his life! When Ne Zha was released in 2019, it shattered records to become the highest-grossing animated film in China, and the rest is history! (Source: myNEWS)
Everything happens for the better!
This incident proves that sometimes taking just a little leap of faith can lead to amazing things. For Jiaozi, putting everything on the line to create Ne Zha was a risk that paid off in a big way. Maybe the fact that he gambled his all on this project is exactly what made it so special. It’s clear that Jiao Zi believed in himself and his vision, and that confidence is something that should be learned.
The success of Ne Zha 2 also marks a turning point in the film industry. Until now, American studios have been the ones behind the most successful animated films about traditional Chinese culture, like Kung Fu Panda or Mulan. But Ne Zha 2 is here to change the waves, showing that Chinese filmmakers can also create global blockbusters with their own unique culture and perspective!
Ne Zha 2 is available to watch on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
