From Prince Nezhas Triumph Against Dragon King to Nezha 2: deconstructionism by new-generation director

In 2025, Nezha 2 swept across various film charts and became a dark horse in the Spring Festival film season. As of now, it has topped the Chinese box office chart with 15.414 billion yuan and ranked fifth in global box office history with 15.867 billion yuan. The success of this phenomenon-level film is inseparable from the profound cultural heritage of China. The character of Nezha originated from religious folk tales. From literary classic mythological novels to Nezhas Triumph Against Dragon King produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio in 1979 and then to Nezha 2 in 2025, the forms of works are rich and diverse. Based on different artistic expression forms, Not only has the classic character of Nezha undergone earth-shaking changes, but the narrative of Nezhas series of works has also undergone tremendous transformation over time. From the binary opposition structuralism to the current diversified deconstructionism, the new generation of directors have gradually emerged in the history of cinema with their unique directorial styles, continuing to write a new chapter in the new era of film history that belongs to them. Jiaozi, the director of the film Nezha 2, is one of the representatives of the new generation of directors. As of now, Jiaozi has topped the box office chart of Chinese directors with a cumulative box office of 20.449 billion yuan for the two series of films starring Nezha. The success of the film Nezha 2 is closely related to the director. Therefore, the significance of interpreting this epoch-making film cannot be separated from the analysis of the directors creative style. This article will start by comparing the differences between the 1979 film Nezhas Triumph Against Dragon King and the 2025 film Nezha 2, and explore how the new generation of directors, through deconstructing traditional narratives, reshaping character images, and integrating contemporary values, adapt traditional classic myths and legends with new era meanings. Thus, it reveals the significance of modernity brought by this phenomenon-level Chinese animated film.