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New Gods: Nezha Reborn

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New Gods: Nezha Reborn
Promotional poster
Chinese新神榜：哪吒重生
Literal meaningLeague of New Gods: Nezha Reborn
Hanyu Pinyinxīn shén bǎng: Nézhā chóngshēng
Directed byZhao Ji
Screenplay byMu Chuan
Based onInvestiture of the Gods
by Xu Zhonglin and Lu Xixing
Produced byLu Xi
Music byGuo Haowei
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • February 12, 2021 (2021-02-12) (China)
  • April 12, 2021 (2021-04-12) (international)
Running time
116 minutes
CountryChina
LanguageChinese
Box officeRMB 456 million[1]
(US$70 million)[2] (china)

New Gods: Nezha Reborn (Chinese: 新神榜：哪吒重生) is a 2021 Chinese 3D animated fantasy action film directed by Zhao Ji and written by Mu Chuan, based on the character of Nezha from the Ming dynasty novel Investiture of the Gods. In the film, a steampunk and cyberpunk take on the story, Nezha is reincarnated as Li Yunxiang in the fictional city of Donghai (loosely based on 1920s Shanghai) and must settle a 3,000-year-old grudge with the Dragon Clan.[3][4] New Gods: Yang Jian was released in 2022 as a sequel to this film.[5]

The film was released in mainland China on 12 February 2021 (Chinese New Year).[6][7] Netflix acquired global rights to the film except in China, and it was released on the platform on 12 April 2021.[8][9]

New Gods: Nezha Reborn is not related to the 2019 film Ne Zha; they came from different production companies and have different distributors. New Gods: Nezha Reborn actually started production before Ne Zha did, but both films are loosely based on the same Ming Dynasty novel.[10][11][12]

Plot

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Three thousand years after Nezha fought the sea, Li Yunxiang, a young motorbike rider in Donghai City, discovers that he is Nezha reborn. Before he has mastered his powers, his old enemies appear, and he must settle a 3,000-year-old grudge with the Dragon Clan.[3]

Voice cast

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Li Yunxiang
Voiced by: Yang Tianxiang (Mandarin), Stephen Fu (English)
  • The main protagonist. He is a smuggler and courier and current reincarnation of Nezha
The Masked Man
Voiced by: Zhang He (Mandarin), Jason Ko (English)
Ao Guang
Voiced by: Xuan Xiaoming (Mandarin), Andrew Kishino (English)
  • The main antagonist. He is the leader of the De Clan whose true identity is the Dragon King of the East Sea.
Su Junzhu
Voiced by: Li Shimeng (Mandarin), Nicole Fong (English)
  • A doctor from Cijie hospital who enjoys competitive motorbike racing. Yunxiang's crush and lover.
Kasha
Voiced by: Zhu Ke'er (Mandarin), Victoria Grace (English)
  • Yunxiang's childhood friend and a lounge singer.
Ao Bing
Voiced by: King Zhenhe (Mandarin), Jonny Siew (English)
  • The son of Ao Guang and the Dragon Prince who was defeated by Nezha in the past. He controls ice-based powers.
Li Jinxiang
Voiced by: Guo Haoran (Mandarin), Harrison Xu (English)
  • Yunxiang's older brother. He supports his brother's job as a courier despite their father's wishes.
Donghai Yaksha
Voiced by: Gao Zengzhi (Mandarin), TBA (English)
  • Ao Guang's assistant.[13]

Production

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New Gods: Nezha Reborn expands on the original story of Nezha from the Ming Dynasty novel Investiture of the Gods. It was directed by Zhao Ji and produced by Light Chaser Animation Studios, and it took four years to produce. Zhao Ji and Light Chaser previously collaborated on the 2019 film White Snake, which features some of the same cast and crew.[14]

The cyberpunk city of Donghai was designed based on a mixture of Manhattan in the 1920s and '30s and Republic of China–era Shanghai, according to Zhao.[11]

Release

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The film was originally scheduled for a summer 2020 release,[14] but was delayed. In 2020 it was presented as a "work in progress" at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and released a promotional video.[15] In August 2020, its first official trailer was released.[4] On 10 October 2020, a promotional poster was released and the film's release was announced for 12 February 2021 (Chinese New Year).[16] It was screened at IMAX theaters in China on 6 February 2021, with a second round of screenings on 9 February.[17]

In its opening weekend, the film grossed US$21.3 million.[7]

Netflix has acquired streaming rights for the film outside of mainland China,[7] and it was released on the platform on 12 April 2021.[8][9]

Reception

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Critic Lim Yian Yu called the film "an interesting take" on the classic novel, and said it was "definitely a family-friendly movie that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike".[18]

Sun Jiayin praised the decision to bring the character of Nezha into a setting 3,000 years after the original story, saying that this made the film distinct from the plethora of other Investiture of the Gods adaptations out there.[19]

Sequel

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A prequel, New Gods: Yang Jian, was released in 2022.

References

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  1. ^ "新神榜：哪吒重生". Maoyan. Archived from the original on 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  2. ^ "New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021) - Financial Information". Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2022-03-24.
  3. ^ a b 羊羊 (2020-08-13). "哪吒转世机车小哥，前世宿敌纷纷寻仇 《新神榜：哪吒重生》曝"开战"预告". Mtime (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  4. ^ a b ChOzen (2020-08-12). "动画电影《新神榜：哪吒重生》首支预告公布 硬核新作高燃开战". 游民星空 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  5. ^ Chapman, Wilson (August 25, 2022). "GKIDS Acquires North American Rights to 'New Gods: Yang Jian'". Variety. Archived from the original on January 17, 2023. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "7部电影竞争春节档 谁是头马谁是黑马-中新网". 中国新闻网_梳理天下新闻 (in Chinese). 2021-02-08. Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-08.
  7. ^ a b c Tartaglione, Nancy (17 February 2021). "Netflix Acquires Chinese New Year Title 'New Gods: Nezha Reborn'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  8. ^ a b "What's Coming to Netflix in April 2021". What's On Netflix. Archived from the original on 2021-03-19. Retrieved 2021-03-19.
  9. ^ a b Salazar, Savannah (17 April 2021). "New on Netflix: April 2021". Vulture. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  10. ^ "Spring Festival movie guide 2021 - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  11. ^ a b "详解《哪吒重生》新在哪——钢铁直男审美，居然不讨厌了_李云祥". www.sohu.com. Archived from the original on 20 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  12. ^ "An Overview Of Annecy Film Festival's Works in Progress & Previews". CBR. 23 June 2020. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  13. ^ "New Gods: Nezha Reborn - Cast and Crew". www.moviefone.com.
  14. ^ a b 羊羊 (2020-01-11). "又一个哪吒！《哪吒重生》定档暑期 追光动画打造 《白蛇：缘起》导演执导". Mtime (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  15. ^ 羊羊 (2020-06-17). "《哪吒重生》曝昂西国际动画节宣传片 《白蛇：缘起》团队打造 画面满满现代元素". Mtime (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  16. ^ "《新神榜：哪吒重生》定档2021大年初一 全新预告释出热血开年". Maoyan. 2020-10-10. Archived from the original on 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
  17. ^ "《哪吒重生》宣布提档 将于除夕夜22点上映". 新浪網. 2021-02-10. Archived from the original on 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  18. ^ "New Gods: Nezha Reborn review: A modern spin to classic legend". sg.news.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  19. ^ ""新哪吒"怎么样？国漫大片《新神榜：哪吒重生》先睹记-新华网". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
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