Promotional materials for The Legend of Nezha Photo: Courtesy of Douban

'The Legend of Nezha': Bringing Chinese myths to the small screen

The Legend of Nezha was an animated television series produced by China International Television Corporation that first aired in 2003-04. A total of 52 episodes long, the television series combined myths, history and legends in a fun way for young audiences. 

The production crew of The Legend of Nezha included talented creators from across China. In the 21st century, the productivity of Chinese animation improved greatly. Cai Zhijun, the director of The Legend of Nezha, noted that today more than 3,000 minutes of animated content is produced in China annually. 

Compared with Nezha Conquers the Dragon King produced in 1967, The Legend of Nezha is more entertaining and thus resonates with children more easily, according to the series' another director Zhang Zuquan.     

Centering on the renowned mythological hero Nezha, the television series tells the story of how the unusual child grows up to be a hero. Set in the Shang Dynasty (C.1600BC-1046BC), a witch named Shi Ji helps the fatuous King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty to rule over the people and cause chaos. With the help of many people, gods and creatures, Nezha grows up and fights against evil to protect the world. 

Many of the characters in the animated series are based on myths and historical records, such as Nezha, Li Jing, King Zhou of Shang and Yang Jian. 

Just like Nezha, Yang Jian is also a very popular mythological figure in China. A deity with a third eye that can tell good from evil, Yang has appeared in various film and literature works over the years. 

Once appearing in Shanghai Animation Film Studio's animated film Lotus Lantern as a villain and evil uncle to the protagonist Chen Xiang, Yang Jian is depicted as a reliable brother figure to Nezha and a helping hand to Ji Fa, the King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty (1046BC-256BC), in The Legend of Nezha.  

The latest film appearance of Nezha and Yang Jian is in a Chinese animated film New Gods: Yang Jian, which was released on August 19, 2022. Different from Lotus Lantern in 1999, in this new film, Yang Jian meets his nephew Chen Xiang while traveling alone. Taking inspiration from folk stories and literature, Chinese animation has always promoted traditional culture while keeping up with the contemporary era. 

Global Times