Promotional material of NeZha 2 Photo: Courtesy of Wang Jing

Starting from Wednesday, Ne Zha 2 will begin special screenings in North America, before its official release on Friday. Based on the presale situation, North American audiences have shown great enthusiasm for Ne Zha 2, with occupancy rates exceeding 90 percent. In some showings, tickets are hard to come by. In Australia, the presale for Ne Zha 2 screenings has also exceeded expectations. As there are currently no screening plans in Western European countries like the UK and France, some netizens have even spontaneously formed groups to travel to Greece for a screening. On overseas social media, many foreign users have commented that they can't wait to see it. 

Since its release during the Spring Festival holidays, Ne Zha 2 has become a phenomenon-level film. It has already topped the global box office chart for a single market and is expected to challenge for the No.1 spot on the global animated film box office list. The young boy "Little Ne Zha," from Chinese mythology, who rides on wind-and-fire wheels, is now shaking hands with global box office icons like the Minions, Buzz Lightyear, and Spider-Man.

Some foreign media outlets have praised the film for "redefining the heights of China's film industry," while some Hollywood producers, after watching the film, expressed hope for more collaborations with their Chinese counterparts. Many international movie fans have flocked to Xiaohongshu to search for reviews and learn about Chinese mythology.

It's still too early to draw conclusions about the overseas performance of Ne Zha 2, however, considering the fact that global box office has yet to recover to its 2019 levels, one can understand the expectations of the global market and audiences for a creative and excellent film product.

From drones to electric vehicles, from TikTok to Xiaohongshu, from Black Myth: Wukong to DeepSeek, and Ne Zha 2, waiting to be released in multiple countries, the reason these products from different fields have been able to break through visible or invisible barriers and create an international buzz lies in the strong demand for exchanges in trade, culture, and public opinion between China and the world. In this sense, as Chinese people pursue a better life, they have also enriched the world with diverse "public goods" through their creative efforts, responding to the global expectation for a better life and creating a frequency of emotional resonance.

At the same time, the outstanding quality of these products can be attributed to the vast market demand and the continuously improving industry environment fostered by mutual learning and China's openness. Ne Zha 2 is, in fact, the latest "creation" born from the globalized melting pot of the animation industry, embodying the collective wisdom of modern animated art. 

In 2024, 93 new imported films were released in the Chinese mainland, with two international films, including Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, making it into the top 10 box office hits of the year. It is through exchanges and competition with international peers that Chinese movies have enhanced their creative standards, and gradually developed a distinctive style and brand of their own, gaining more opportunities to showcase themselves. This is the true essence of civilizational exchange and mutual learning.

Looking outward, foreigners are getting into Chinese traditional culture through figures like Wukong and Ne Zha. They try out the lifestyles of Chinese people through "China Travel" and Xiaohongshu. This attraction reflects a universal longing for a better life shared by people around the world. Countries should align with, respond to, and respect this demand, focusing on doing their own things well while also contributing to a more peaceful and harmonious world. This is an important aspect of our emphasis on win-win cooperation and serves as the foundation of public sentiment. A few days ago, Yiwu, dubbed the "world's supermarket," opened for the Year of the Snake, with merchants from all over the globe eagerly waiting. On the first day, 75,000 vendors welcomed customers, introducing 2.1 million types of goods and attracting a footfall of 235,000 people. The reason the "Yiwu index" can defy various pessimistic predictions and why Yiwu's exports reach all corners of the world is that this small city embodies tremendous global demand.

Nevertheless, Ne Zha 2 will continue to be tested in overseas markets. Hopefully more audiences around the world will come to love "Little Ne Zha," who embodies youthful spirit and passion. We also expect "Little Ne Zha" to reach broader horizons, supported by the film's high quality and the positive word-of-mouth from global audiences. Furthermore, we anticipate seeing more outstanding products that serve as a bridge for communication between cultures and enrich people's pursuit of a better life.