A man passing by the stage of the Hong Kong premiere ceremony of Ne Zha 2 on February 18 Photo: VCG

The highly anticipated animated film Ne Zha 2 held its premiere in Causeway Bay in Hong Kong on Tuesday, drawing an enthusiastic response from audiences. 

The premiere drew large crowds and frequent cheers, with Hong Kong audiences of all ages in attendance. Some viewers brought merchandise inspired by the character Aobing, one of the main characters from Ne Zha 2, according to Hong Kong media outlet Bauhinia Magazine.

Viewers were deeply moved by the movie's portrayal of Chinese cultural values and spiritual strength. Many others highlighted the beauty of the film's traditional Chinese aesthetics and rich historical and cultural depth. One young attendee excitedly admitted to looking forward to watching the film multiple times, according to the report.

In an interview with Hong Hong's Wen Wei Po, a resident surnamed Li who had already watched Ne Zha 2 in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong Province, said she would watch it again if a Cantonese-dubbed version is released. While other viewers expressed the hope that director of the movie Jiaozi would visit Hong Kong.

"The Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and the island of Taiwan share deep cultural roots, common history and strong emotional connection. Ne Zha 2 draws ideas from traditional Chinese mythology and explores universal themes of family and friendship, making it easy for audiences across the region to relate to and create a shared cultural experience," Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

The film is a prime example of the rapid development of the Chinese mainland's cultural industry. It is hoped that audiences in Hong Kong and Macau will experience this thriving film and cultural sector firsthand through the movies themselves, he added.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law Shuk-pui said at the premiere ceremony that Ne Zha 1 combines rich entertainment value with stunning animation techniques to bring a well-known Chinese folk myth to life, effectively promoting the country's cultural heritage. Now,  the sequel takes it a step further, showcasing the growing sophistication of Chinese animation and achieving an unprecedented success both in the Chinese mainland and globally, adding that the movie has set a good example for Hong Kong.

With relevant support, she expects more Hong Kong filmmakers to create movies inspired by Chinese culture, helping showcase the richness of Chinese traditions and philosophy to local and global audiences.

The film is set for official release in the Hong Kong and Macau special administrative regions on February 22. Jointly distributed by Mandarin Motion Pictures, Intercontinental Film Distributors, Sil-Metropole Organization, and Emperor Motion Pictures, Ne Zha 2 has broken records for the number of local distributors and daily screenings for a Chinese mainland film in Hong Kong, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Renowned Hong Kong filmmaker and comedian Stephen Chow posted on Instagram on Tuesday, expressing his excitement, sharing a Ne Zha-inspired cosplay photo and repeatedly writing 10 times, "I want to watch Ne Zha 2." He also confirmed his plans to watch the film on its opening day.

Ne Zha 2 director Yang Yu, also known as Jiaozi, previously stated in an interview that he is a longtime fan of Chow, who has influenced the humor in the Ne Zha series. Indeed some comedic scenes and lines in Ne Zha 2 are inspired by some of Chow's classic films, such as A Chinese Odyssey Part 1-Pandora's Box, Shaolin Soccer,Flirting Scholar, and Hail the Judge.

Internationally, Ne Zha 2 is also gaining traction, with Russian news outlet Izvestia reporting that the film is to be released in Russia, though the release date and rental title are still under discussion.