SZ firm's visual effects propel 'Ne Zha 2' to new heights

Animated film “Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea” (“Ne Zha 2”) has shattered records, outperforming the 2021 war epic “The Battle at Lake Changjin” to become the highest-grossing film of all time in China.

As of 1:25 p.m. Thursday, this film, the sequel to the blockbuster Chinese animation film “Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child” (“Ne Zha”), had raked in over 5.77 billion yuan (US$804.84 million) at the box office, securing its place in history in just eight days and five hours, according to ticketing platforms Maoyan and Beacon.

A poster of animation film “Ne Zha: Demon Child Conquers the Sea” (“Ne Zha 2”). The film’s official Weibo account

With projections now pointing toward a final total of 9.4 to 9.5 billion yuan, “Ne Zha 2” has solidified its status as the top-grossing film in China’s cinematic history.

Just as in its predecessor “Ne Zha,” which captivated audiences in the summer of 2019, Shenzhen-based company Locator Visual Effects was the mastermind behind the dazzling CG visual effects that bring the new animated epic to life.

Building upon the foundation of its prequel, “Ne Zha 2” extends to 144 minutes in length and triples the cast of characters, offering a richer narrative tapestry and more intricate character dynamics to moviegoers.

                             A GIF from the animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2.” 

The grandeur of the story has been amplified, presenting greater challenges for artistic innovation. The film boasts nearly 2,000 visual effects sequences and a creative team exceeding 4,000 individuals. Industry experts have noted that the most challenging effects from “Ne Zha” are merely at the third tier of difficulty in “Ne Zha 2.”

A standout scene involves a colossal sea parting, spanning 5,000 meters in diameter and 3,700 meters in depth — equivalent to 16 or 17 aircraft carriers. Crafting such realistic seawater is among the most challenging tasks in animation, significantly raising the stakes for the creators.

According to Nie Huajun, founder of Locator Visual Effects, the film is replete with intricate special effects, averaging at least five elements per shot, with a massive simulation buffer exceeding 10T per frame. To achieve the desired outcome for complex shots, such as the multi-layered magma flows, the team had to refine their work upwards of 60-70 iterations.

Nie Huajun (R), the founder of Locator Visual Effects, discusses production details with his team. 

In recent years, Locator Visual Effects has been instrumental in the production of several popular domestic films, contributing to the likes of “Ne Zha: Birth of the Demon Child,” “Legend of Deification,” and “The Battle at Lake Changjin,” which now holds the title for the second-highest grossing film in China.

The 2025 Spring Festival holiday has marked a historic milestone for China’s burgeoning film industry, with box office earnings soaring to an impressive 9.51 billion yuan from Jan. 28 to Tuesday, as announced by the China Film Administration.

Shenzhen ranked second in Guangdong with a box office tally of 165 million yuan.