‘Nezha’ Overtakes ‘Zootopia,’ Sets All-Time Highest-Grossing Chinese Animation Record

Nezha is an effects-laden fantasy epic starring the eponymous boy, a folk hero in China. While Nezha is normally depicted as a heroic rebel fighter, the film reimagines him as something of a mischief maker. It was directed and written by Yang “Jiaozi” Yu, who first came to prominence a decade ago, when his short film See Through picked up a number of awards.

The film’s triumph reflects the appetite for homegrown stories — especially myths — at the Chinese box office (although their success is also partly due to the government’s protectionist policies). Folklore has always been at the heart of the industry: China’s first animated feature, Princess Iron Fan (1941), was inspired by local legends. This tendency continues today in works like Monkey King: Hero Is Back and White Snake, which grossed $65 million in January.

The country’s film industry will take heart from Nezha’s performance, which comes after months of low box office revenue. Four high-profile films have had their releases abruptly cancelled, apparently for reasons of censorship. Meanwhile, a huge tax scandal led to a regulatory clampdown, which has made investors wary of backing new films. This Bloomberg article has more on the subject.