Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" wows Filipino moviegoers

China

Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" wows Filipino moviegoers

2025-03-13 21:57 Last Updated At：22:57

The Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" premiered in the Philippines on Wednesday, impressing Filipino moviegoers with its breathtaking animation, spectacular action sequences, and rich mythological elements.

"Ne Zha 2" recently set a new record as the highest-grossing animated film of all time in China, and started screening in theaters across the Philippines.

To better promote the film and attract a wider audience, employees at a cinema in the Greater Manila Area styled their hair to resemble Ne Zha's iconic look and cosplayed as the remarkable character.

Jay Reyes, manager at SM Aura's cinema operations branch, praised the Chinese animated film for its high production quality.

"As of now, the 'Ne Zha 2' is doing great in terms of advance ticket selling. It's quite surprising that China can make this kind of animation. I can recommend this to all Filipinos to watch it because the film is really good," said Reyes.

Filipino audiences are captivated by the unique cinematic experience offered by this blockbuster from China.

"I like to watch a combination of all stuff like action drama, I mean a little bit of drama and some comedy," said Daniel Martin, a boy who had just watched the film.

"Since we actually watched the last scene, the 'Ne Zha 1', we're so excited to see the 'Ne Zha 2'. We're so excited to watch that. And we've been so grateful, and we've been so overwhelmed about the 'Ne Zha 2'. Actually, the animation improved a lot. The other one is good, but the 'Ne Zha 2' is much better than the animation from the last one," said Kim Kho, an audience.

The film, the sequel to 2019's "Ne Zha," was first released in China on Jan. 29. It continues the tale of the iconic boy god from Chinese mythology as Ne Zha and his ally Ao Bing struggle to rebuild their physical forms and secure their fate with the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren.

According to data from ticketing platform Maoyan, "Ne Zha 2" has become the first non-Hollywood film to exceed 2 billion U.S. dollars in global earnings, including presales.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.