The Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2, which made its debut during the Spring Festival, has captivated audiences with its stunning visuals and deep cultural themes. This popularity has seen the film's box office earnings, including pre-sales, surpass 12 billion RMB, making it the first Asian film to enter the global box office top 10.

During production, Chengdu Kekedou Animation Film and Television Co., Ltd. played a crucial role in special effects, voice acting, and other aspects of development. "We spent five years making Ne Zha 2," said Liu Wenzhang, the film's producer and CEO of Kekedou Animation, emphasizing the major advancements in visual effects.

A visual feast of myth and fantasy

In Ne Zha 2, audiences are immersed in a breathtaking fantasy world where molten lava cascades from the sky and thousands of humans and monsters descend in battle. These stunning sequences are the result of collaboration among 138 animation production companies across China.

Technologically, the film marks a major leap forward. The total number of shots increased from 1,800 in the first film to over 2,400, with special effects making up 80 percent of the entire film's shot count. In some of the most intricate scenes, the number of characters depicted within a single frame can reach up to 200 million.

"To achieve this effect, we used advanced computer graphics technology and algorithms, constantly breaking new ground in areas like fluid dynamics and particle effects, enhancing the dynamism and realism of the scenes," said Liu.

Moreover, in the iconic Dragon Palace of the Four Seas scene, the team combined particle systems with biomechanics. Ao Bing, the dragon prince, features individual light-reflecting scales that simulate biological elasticity, creating an unprecedented level of detail.

Blending technology with traditional aesthetics

Ne Zha 2 also integrates particle effects with traditional Chinese aesthetics. Instead of adopting the rigid, mechanical style common in western animation, the team drew inspiration from the ancient Dunhuang Flying Apsaras murals. Ne Zha's legendary "Three Heads and Six Arms" ability is depicted through flowing, dissipating particle effects, creating an ethereal, dreamlike quality.

"This approach is a digital translation of the Chinese artistic principle of 'leaving space,' marking the rise of a distinct visual language for domestic animation," said Liu.

Unlocking the digital secrets of ink painting

One of the most groundbreaking achievements in Ne Zha 2 is the development of the world's first "dynamic ink wash rendering engine." This innovation was driven by a mere 0.8-second scene in which the dragon king Ao Guang's weapon slices through the air, causing ink-like colors to shift between freezing and diffusion. The scene took nine months to complete.

"If particle effects formed the bones of Ne Zha 2, then the 'dynamic ink wash rendering engine' injected its soul," said Liu. Traditional Chinese ink painting, with its delicate brushwork and expressive depth, posed a significant challenge for digital animation. After years of research, the team succeeded in bringing the dynamic flow of ink onto a digital canvas, allowing for real-time simulation of brushstrokes spreading across rice paper.

This breakthrough imbued characters with a unique artistic vitality—every detail, from skin to clothing and even hair, carries the elegance of ink painting. Ne Zha's signature red silk and fire-tipped spear appear more vibrant than ever, infused with an energy that blends tradition and modernity.

Through this fusion of culture and technology, Ne Zha 2 is redefining Chinese animation. When Ne Zha's wind-and-fire wheels glide over ink-painted landscapes, audiences witness not just an evolution in filmmaking, but a civilization revitalizing its cultural heritage through innovation.