(Photo/CFP)

Analysts believe the success of Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2", which has become the first Chinese film to gross 10 billion yuan in total global earnings, can be attributed to its blend of innovative representations of traditional culture, advanced special effects, and effective social media outreach.

The film’s breakthrough lies in its creative rejuvenation of traditional Chinese culture, catering to contemporary values. Liang Tianming, a member of the Jiangsu Literature and Art Critics Association, noted that the film continues and deepens the theme of its predecessor by exploring topics such as fate and choice. "The film not only moves audiences with the growth of a young hero but also reflects young people’s aspirations to break stereotypes and achieve personal values," said Liang.

The film's popularity also gives the credit to its state-of-the-art special effects across more than 1,900 shots, showcasing everything from lively street life to the detailed expressions of characters, and even the texture of clothing and hair.

The production team went to extra lengths to ensure the top quality, revising some scenes hundreds of times, from initial design to final animation. Even the costumes of some supporting characters were adjusted more than 20 times over eight months.

Unlike traditional animated films, "Ne Zha 2" has created an impact well beyond cinemas and turned itself a cultural phenomenon and online sensation. The character’s costumes or facial expressions were transformed into emojis and memes on social media platforms like Douyin and Weibo. Ne Zha emojis have been used over one billion times by WeChat users when they send red envelopes (gift money) online.

The film's co-branded promotional items, including popcorn buckets, cups, keychains, and headbands went viral in Jiangsu. All Ne Zha figures were sold out at Pop Mart physical stores.