Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 wows audiences in Australia, New Zealand

After taking domestic cinemas by storm, Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2 is also making a big splash in Oceanian markets.

At a cinema in Sydney, Australia, the movie is drawing large crowds. The staff there told the China Central Television (CCTV) that since its official release on Feb.13, the film has made a strong debut at the box office.

Cinema manager Cameron Woodhouse said they are considering to extend the film's run depending on the current box office performance.

"Wonderful! It's been a wonderful film and it's been had a wonderful reception here. We've been selling out sessions of Ne Zha 2 and we've had a wonderful reaction to it. The positive atmosphere and environment that we see and people's attitude when they come out of the cinema has been wonderful," said Woodhouse.

Thanks to its stunning visuals and gripping storyline, the film has not only garnered interest among the local Chinese community, but has also resonated with audiences from diverse cultural backgrounds.

"I think it was really good. The animation was perfect, the story was good and I think they should make the third one quicker I guess. Just the relationship between the two characters, the bonding is really good. It is the best movie, best animation and a good storyline," said Australian moviegoer Benjamin.

"I would definitely recommend it to my friend. The animation looks really high quality. The story, even though I've never [spoken] a word of Chinese in my life, I can still perfectly understand everything that's going on. When I saw his mom die, that really left an impression on me because I went to a boarding school in 2023 and just the thought of losing my mom really resonated deep with those deep emotions I had back then. The animation, the impact frames, it was definitely comparable to some of the top things I've watched," said Louis, a Vietnamese-Australian viewer.

In New Zealand, the film's box office performance has also made a splash. Its portrayal of traditional Chinese culture and well-developed characters have received praises from local audiences. Due to the increasing demand, many theaters are adding more screenings and extending their schedules.

At a theater of one of New Zealand's largest cinema chains, many screenings are close to selling out. The film has struck a chord with many moviegoers.

"I think it was a really good movie and it had really good ideas. I liked the ideas and how it was put together and the quality was very good," said Ruby, a moviegoer.

"And also I found that very emotional in some parts, like when he got covered in spikes and the mom just wanted one last hug. I learned that you should always love your mother no matter what," said another moviegoer.

Roy, a local man, praised the film's overall quality: "Really top notch, really good quality, good characters, the visual effects, everything was quite impressive. Behind all of that, just seeing the message behind family and culture and friendship. So I think some of those themes were came through really strong. So yeah, that was cool to see. Would love to see more as well."

Paul, another New Zealand viewer, said: "That was a very exciting movie, lots of action, the animation was quite amazing really, I've never seen a Chinese animation before and I think the transformation of the characters is pretty amazing."

Tao Li, a Chinese film director based in New Zealand, commented: "I believe this symbolizes the global rise of Chinese film production. It's a very welcome phenomenon, and it will play an immeasurable role in pushing Chinese film industry further in global production and distribution."

Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 wows audiences in Australia, New Zealand

Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 wows audiences in Australia, New Zealand

The three astronauts of China's recently-returned Shenzhou-20 mission on Friday shared the experiences of their dramatic 204-day space mission, including detailing the emergency procedures which were implemented to bring them safely home after their return capsule was struck by space debris.

The trio -- Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie -- met with the press in Beijing on Friday afternoon, marking their first public appearance since returning to Earth in November.

When detailing the emergency response mechanisms which were enacted prior to their scheduled return, the astronauts explained that upon discovering a triangular crack on the spacecraft's viewport window, they immediately took photos for documentation and transmitted them to the ground team, who swiftly activated an emergency plan to get the trio home safely.

Experienced mission commander Chen Dong explained how the crew had complete faith in their colleagues on the ground to find a solution to these unforeseen circumstances which led to their return being delayed.

"First, we must trust the ground team, who would anticipate everything and develop the safest return plan for us. Second, we must believe in ourselves; as well-trained astronauts, we have the ability to manage various unexpected failures. I believe that with the collaboration of astronauts and researchers on the ground, our space home will surely go farther, more steadily, and for a longer time," he said.

Following their extended stay in space as a result of the debris incident, the Shenzhou-20 crew spent a total 204 days in orbit, setting a new record for the longest duration by a single group of Chinese astronauts.

During their mission, they completed multiple payload operations, conducted extensive scientific experiments, and carried out four extravehicular activities.

"Our crew worked together with the ground team in unity and coordination, completing four extravehicular activities, several payload entry and exit tasks, and a large number of scientific experiments. It was a fulfilling yet challenging mission. The path to exploring the heavens is long and arduous, but I firmly believe that China's space missions will succeed," said Chen Zhongrui, a former air force pilot who was making his first spaceflight during the mission.

"From the ground to space, from learning to application, I have deeply felt the solid progress of Chinese space endeavors and the quiet dedication of countless personnel behind the scenes. In the future, I will accomplish each mission with full commitment, living up to the trust of the motherland and the people," said fellow astronaut Wang Jie, who was also making his debut spaceflight.

After returning to Earth on Nov 14, the trio successfully completed their isolation recovery and rehabilitation and will now resume normal training following health assessments.

The crew's return, originally scheduled for Nov 5, was postponed due to safety concerns, with the astronauts later using the return capsule belonging to their successor crew of the Shenzhou-21 mission to get back to Earth. China later launched the unmanned Shenzhou-22 spacecraft which will serve the future return of the crew now aboard the Tiangong Space Station.

Shenzhou-20 astronauts share experiences after safely returning from debris incident