International students explore Chinese mythology through 'Nezha 2' screening

english.shanghai.gov.cn| March 26, 2025

[Video by Xuhui district news center]

The College of International Education at East China University of Science and Technology hosted a special screening of Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea, also known as Nezha 2, on March 18, inviting over 80 international students to attend.

Directed by Yang Yu, widely known as Jiaozi, this Chinese animated film has broken numerous box office records, raking in more than 15 billion yuan ($2.07 billion) and ranking among the top five highest-grossing films worldwide.

A poster for Ne Zha Demon Child Conquers the Sea..jpg
A poster for Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea. [Photo/VCG]

After the screening, the students engaged in a lively discussion of the film. Bangladeshi student Md Samiul Islam said he enjoyed the movie, highlighting its outstanding plot and special effects, and calling it one of the best films he had ever seen. Filipino student Alvin Bacotot also praised the film's stunning effects and music, noting that the animation quality was at the global cutting-edge.

International students watch Nezha 2.jpg
International students watch the film Nezha 2. [Photo/Xuhui district news center]

Malaysian student Cek Thai Tay was particularly struck by a line from the first Nezha film, "Prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain," and felt that this line was powerfully reinforced in the sequel. Japanese student Doremi Watabe resonated with the sentiment expressed in the line "Because we are all too young, we don't know the height of the sky and the depth of the earth", finding it particularly relevant to young people.

To enhance the students' understanding of the film's background, the College of International Education arranged a visit to the Shanghai Film Museum prior to the screening. At the museum, students traced the development of the Nezha animated character and experienced firsthand the evolution of Chinese animated films.

Students explore the Shanghai Film Museum.jpg
A student explores the Shanghai Film Museum. [Photo/Xuhui district news center]

 

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Xuhui district news center at "xuhuifau"