DRAGON COVE OF MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND STORIES: Nezha: Folk hero turned Pop Culture Sensation🔥
My digital take on Nezha with his characteristic fire-tipped spear and wind-fire wheels. Past designs of Nezha are more colorful and flowery, but the movie redesign still maintains the white lotus motif on his jacket.
Go watch the movie(s) if you haven’t!
Introducing, the one, the only, Nezha (呢咋)!! For those who are unfamiliar may be confused by why this runty, unkempt, almost girlish looking boy with bruised eyes and a demonic grin, has somehow absolutely taken China by storm (and other parts of the world), and absolutely invaded the Chinese public consciousness, dominating the toy market, Chinese children’s Halloween costumes, figurines, drone shows, airport TSA videos, etc etc.
Who is he, where did he come from, and how has he become such a huge deal???
With roots from Indian Buddhism, Nezha appeared alongside the Monkey King, Sun Wu Kong, (even fights him!) in the famous Chinese fictional work, Journey to the West. Despite being a rebellious character that causes much chaos in the village, he ends up selflessly sacrificing his own life to save his family and village, and is subsequently resurrected with a new body made of lotus roots and flowers to become a divine warrior, hence the lotus motif on his vest. The 2021 movie version (its sequel Nezha 2, released 2025, deviates) sticks fairly closely to this mischievous yet well-meaning archetype but takes it one step further.
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Nezha can be written off as a silly cartoon yet something about it feels righteously angry and powerful. Sure, it’s easy to see how people have been won over by the slapstick humor, stunning visuals, the dizzying array of spectacular battle sequences, celebration of Chinese culture, and colorful cast of entertaining characters, but I think there is much more to the story than meets the eye. Nezha is a symbol of resistance and justice, a character that defies the heavens upon seeing the ways that they have oppressed and silenced those beneath to maintain their power. To me, he is a symbolic figure for resisting oppression and holding those in power accountable for their crimes and corruption, enshrouded as a children’s flick with fart jokes and screaming marmots.
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Not only has Nezha and Nezha 2 showcased the amazing potential of Chinese animation and storytelling, but it has impressed upon me a journey of self-acceptance, community, and resistance. In the meantime, I’ll enjoy playing make-believe with my little cousin as Nezha and Nezha’s friend, Ao Bing, (I’m stuck with Ao Bing because I’m taller haha).
