Ne Zha 2 vs. Elio: When Cultures Meet on Screen

Will this be "when East meets West, they never understand each other "? What have we learned from transporting narratives rooted in one culture to another?

credit: Variety

According to The New York Times, the English version of China's highest-grossing animated movie, Ne Zha 2, is set to be released in the U.S. next month. I can't wait to read the reviews—good, bad, interesting, or confusing—that will emerge from the other side of the Pacific Ocean. I'm especially eager to see how the common American audience interprets this animation, which is rich with Chinese mythology, deities, and demons.

While the global audience anticipates Ne Zha 2, I recently went to the cinema to watch Elio, another Pixar animation. Despite its reported "worst debut ever for Pixar in the U.S. market," I found the movie quite entertaining. In this article, I aim to explore the commonalities and differences between these two films, delving into the cultural nuances and tastes they reflect. Hopefully, this analysis will offer insights for building cultural branding, whether for products, services, or cultural content like movies.

Universal Echoes: The Lonely Soul and Unconditional Love

First, it's interesting and somewhat unexpected that both movies feature lonely boy protagonists whose unique personalities are shaped by different environments. Ne Zha is a cursed child, while Elio is an orphaned boy feeling hopeless after losing his parents. As outcasts, both are deeply socially isolated, which drives them to seek connection outwardly, whether from an enemy or by wishing to be abducted by aliens from outer space. Stories woven around the misunderstood and isolated resonate deeply with most audiences worldwide. Why? Because, at our core, we are all born alone and, from childhood, frequently confront isolation, discrimination, and apathy simply due to our differences. Connecting with other beings is an eternal, universal theme for humankind. In this regard, Elio truly goes the extra mile, projecting an individual’s innermost desire for connection as Earth's lonely mission in the vast universe. It’s profoundly touching and, frankly, admirable.

Second, both movies powerfully demonstrate the impact of unconditional love, though through different narratives.

When Ne Zha 1 was released in China in 2019, most local reviews focused on how Ne Zha’s parents served as excellent role models for modern parenting. I read many reviews that dedicated pages to deep analyses of the ideal parenting model based on their roles. In the sequel, Ne Zha 2, this unconditional love and sacrifice alter Ne Zha’s fate, which was initially destined for destruction, leading to his rebirth. This resonates strongly in China because traditional and rigid East Asian parenting styles have often been criticized as outdated, hindering children’s healthy personal growth. The movie echoed society's widespread yearning for a more liberal parenting style to foster individuality and improve parent-child relationships amidst societal "involution" (内卷).

Similarly, in Elio, Aunt Olga demonstrates her unconditional love for the orphaned boy, giving up her dreams of becoming an astronaut to raise her nephew. Initially, Elio doesn't seem to appreciate it, but he eventually matures, realizing he needs to give Earth—where he belongs—and genuine love (his aunt) a chance. The movie concludes with a very touching message.

Cultural Divergence and the Allure of Nuance

After exploring these commonalities, I want to spend some time on the differences and the cultural nuances embedded within them.

Unlike Elio and other typical Pixar animations, which primarily target minors and often feature a less-scary main villain (like the warlord Grigon), Ne Zha, especially its sequel, is notably dark-themed. Its storyline, intertwined with mythological Chinese folklore and conspiracy theories, seems more appropriate for an adult audience. This is precisely what makes Ne Zha 2 so fascinating to adults, yet controversial as an animation for children. To amplify Ne Zha’s rebellious spirit against unjust fate, the story is reimagined as a David-and-Goliath battle within a Chinese narrative. Wuliang, the deity, serves as the Goliath in a conspiratorial setting, reminding me of Kevin Spacey's Francis Underwood in House of Cards. After its release in China, there were many interpretations; some even suggested it implied the geopolitical battle between China and the U.S. You can imagine the depth of such dark and heavy cultural weight.

So, what is the purpose of this comparative analysis of Ne Zha 2 and Elio? It offers more than mere film criticism; rather, its fundamental aim is to provide a vital lens through which to understand the evolving dynamics of global culture and consumption.

Key Takeaways for Cultural Branding

The global audience seeks to see a projection of themselves or their aspirations on screen, regardless of whether the costume, language, or social setting is foreign. What they truly desire is connection, an emotion to be shared while watching a movie. Therefore, the success of a culturally rich product lies in transporting one culture in a way that is widely accepted without causing offense.

In the past, storylines embedded with American-led values held dominant power. However, this is changing. As Therese Reyes of Canvas8 noted in her newsletter, APAC viewers, who once readily accepted Hollywood’s America-centric storylines, are now calling to see themselves reflected in their own cultural narratives on screen. This trend is also true in other regions of the world.

Adapting to local cultures and narratives under a popular universal theme is leading the trend for cross-border cultural content creation, such as movies or mini-dramas (also known as vertical dramas). One proven, successful universal theme is "The Domineering CEO Fell for Me." While "CEO" is universally accepted, especially in China, it's better adapted to "Werewolf" in the U.S. and "Mr. Darcy" in the U.K. to fit different cultural contexts and be better understood by local audiences with minimal loss of nuance.

With the English version of Ne Zha 2 officially releasing in the U.S., it also represents a re-creation designed for the American audience to better understand a film so heavily loaded with Chinese methodology and the Chinese way of rebellion, parenting, social isolation, and a fate to defy. It's similar to how I, a Chinese viewer, sat in the cinema and shared the feelings of a socially isolated boy who dreamed of being abducted by aliens—a dream I, too, secretly had as a child.