With its impressive box office revenue, Ne Zha 2 (also known as Ne Zha: Demon King’s Havoc) is currently holding the record for highest commercial earnings in China’s film history. Just 12 days after its release, the film continuously shattered numerous box office milestones, achieving remarkable feats.
Ne Zha: Demon King’s Havoc continues the story from the first part released in 2019. The film was produced with an investment of 500 million RMB (over $70 million USD) over a span of five years.
Director Suicao of both parts of the Ne Zha series (Photo: Sina).
Combining elements of Chinese mythology with intense battles and humorous moments, Ne Zha 2 has been praised by critics for its engaging storyline that appeals to both adults and children alike.
Ne Zha: Demon King’s Havoc is expected to continue drawing audiences to theaters in the coming months. However, few know that before the Ne Zha films were released, their director faced many difficult years pursuing his passion for art.
Director Suicao, born in 1980, initially struggled to secure funding for his project. His work was rejected by dozens of major companies. He eventually divided the film into smaller parts, assigning them to 20 different companies, and later merged them into a complete piece. As a result, both parts of the film took nearly five years to complete.
According to Sina, Suicao was born and raised in Sichuan, China, in a family where both parents were doctors. He stumbled into directing by chance. From a young age, the now 45-year-old director was passionate about comic books and wanted to become a comic artist but chose not to pursue it as a career.
has achieved over $1 billion in box office revenue (Photo: Weibo).
Suicao decided to study pharmacy because he believed being a comic artist was uncertain. After two years at the West China School of Pharmacy at Sichuan University, he realized he couldn’t let go of his passion for comics.
He shifted his focus to 3D animation when a friend introduced him to animation software. At 20, Suicao recognized that medicine wasn’t his true passion and made the bold decision to change his life entirely.
He dropped out of university and dedicated himself fully to animation. He worked tirelessly, almost never socializing, and spent all his time learning.
“People thought I was wasting my time and making a mistake by leaving a good field,” Suicao said.
Upon graduating, he used a short animated film he created to apply for a job at an advertising company specializing in 3D animation. There, he expanded his knowledge and met more experienced professionals. However, he soon realized that working as an employee could limit his creativity and decided to quit to set new goals for himself. His decision to leave a prestigious company sparked skepticism, but his parents supported him.
Suicao’s journey toward his passion was far from easy. In four years of pursuing animation, he struggled financially and often faced rejections from film studios.
Suicao’s success with Ne Zha is attributed to his passion for art, perseverance, hard work, and family support (Photo: Sina).
Recognizing his son’s intense passion, his parents supported and encouraged him. His mother even used her monthly pension, approximately 1,000 RMB ($150 USD), to help him cover living expenses.
After years of effort, Suicao’s 16-minute short animated film Beating a Watermelon debuted in 2009, winning over 30 awards in China and internationally.
As his reputation grew, Suicao founded his own film company. An investor approached him with a proposal to collaborate on an animated film, marking the beginning of the Ne Zha phenomenon.
Suicao poured his love for Chinese animation, fascination with folk mythology, and deep gratitude for his parents into the film. The first part of Ne Zha took five years, went through 66 revisions, involved 5,000 shots, and ultimately retained 2,000 scenes. Released in 2019, it was well-received and grossed over $725 million, ranking fourth on China’s all-time box office list. It was also the first Chinese animated film nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards.
Suicao says his animated works are the voice and story of his life (Photo: Trends).
Six years later, the second part of Ne Zha was released, becoming a blockbuster during the Lunar New Year holiday. It is poised to create a global sensation when it premieres in the U.S., Europe, and other Asian countries.
Though rooted in mythology, the plot of Ne Zha: Demon King’s Havoc carries educational messages and reflects modern society. The second part encourages people to break rules and prejudices to find true values.
Reflecting on his success, Suicao proudly mentions his family: “I have an amazing family. My parents’ support allowed me to pursue this path. I infused my real emotions and experiences into the film.”
Many viewers recognize Ne Zha as the story of Suicao’s life, urging people to nurture their passions and cherish the importance of family.
