Prince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King (1979) User Reviews

a boy prince battling 5 tyrant dragons

[huluvu38 · 8/10 · 6 September 2003]

I saw this ages ago when i was a kid. The animation was great and so was the story .. based on some old Chinese legend i think; a boy prince battling 5 tyrant dragons that plague the land. I only have vague memories of the movie but i recall i enjoyed it a lot. Several searches for a DVD version have yielded nothing :/

Nezha: the Little Hero in Our Childhood

[zijiaoj · 9/10 · 8 June 2019]

As an animation film released by Shanghai Animation Film Studio in 1979, "Prince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King" is a outstanding representative animated work of the last century that may makes many adults recall their memory of childhood. As a pioneer of Chinese style animation, the studio which produced this animation film might sounds unfamiliar for the younger generation who were born around 2000s like me. However, the form of expression and the message presented by "Prince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King" are still so impressive and ahead of time.The film is not only an educational animation that teach children about the hero and justice, but also an meaningful tragic artwork that reflects current social situation. The art expression and message of this old film is very valuable and is ahead of most of today's movie. The story of Nezha is adapted from a Chinese fantasy novel, "Investiture of the Gods". Since Nezha was built into a children heroic image, his story became popular with children and separately developed into a individual fairy tale for children over time. As one of the most well-known character in Chinese fairy tale, Nezha has always been considered as a unique and disputable figure. Tracing back to the original version of Nezha's story, Nezha is an insolent child who actually provokes the conflict with the Dragon King. He has two magic weapon called Universe Ring and Red Armillary Sash. In the original story he has a seawater bath and intentionally shakes the underwater palace of the Dragon King with his two weapons. Then he killed the yaksha, who means no harm that is just sent by the Dragon to see what happened in the surface. In order to make the story of Nezha into an appropriate children's film, these evil and unreasonable characteristics of Nezha are deleted in the "Prince Nezha's Triumph Against Dragon King". In the film, the Dragon King is a godlike noble with power and abominable conduct that tyrannizes people. Nezha launches the attack on the Dragon King because he sends yaksha to kidnap little boys and girls as tributes. The changing of the plot build Nezha as a figure of justice and kindheart. However, in the film, we cannot see Nezha's mother presents in his life, as a little child who needs caring, Nezha actually grows up under strict family rule and two killing weapons, which can possibly be the reason why he is such a brave but impulsive young man. The image of Nezha's father Jing is build in a bold and interesting way. The reactions of Nezha and Jing when they face the Dragon King are always in sharp contrast. As the Dragon King comes to Jing's home and denounces him for Nezha's crime, Jing firstly passes the buck and denies humbly by saying that Nezha is only a young child and he cannot possibly do such things. His low attitude portrays him as a coward with great fear of the system's authority. Nezha honestly tells Jing that he did punished yaksha and killed Prince Aobin because they kidnap innocent little girl and refuse to give her back. When Jing learns about Nezha's true reason of doing so, as a significant transition of the film, however, he immediately reprimands Nezha severely for offending the Dragon King and never says a single word about the little girl. Jing is a typical example of adults who are poisoned and brainwashed by the fear of authority. As the head of the house, Jing indeed surrenders to the higher authority to save himself instead of upholding justice by taking the action of blaming Nezha. I clearly remember the feeling when I firstly watch this scene. I was so angry and hated Jing so much because he ignores the fact and blames Nezha unreasonably. The director cleverly arouse audience's sympathy of this little hero and anger towards Jing. The sharp contrast between Nezha and Jing is able to leave deep impression for children, and teach them that they should always uphold justice like Nezha rather than yield to evil like Jing. However, what happened to the hero who against the system and break the rule? The answer to this question is also the climax of the movies that Nezha finally commits suicide. The tragedy of the little hero Nezha is so realistic that astounds me as well as makes me distressing. Nezha, with great ability and courage, who is supposed be able to overthrow the evil power and bring peace to the people, finally is forced to become the victim of the system. As the son of Jing, Nezha has to obey in order to be filial to his father. In the end of the film, as Nezha is reborn with body made by lotus root and no longer related to his original family and this corrupted system, I sign with all sort of emotions that, "He is truly free now." The appearance of figure and coloring method present the unique Chinese art style pioneered by Shanghai Animation Film Studio. The representative color choice adapted from ancient China artwork restores a fantastic world of Chinese fairy tale. The background music is also played by traditional Chinese instrument such as suona horn and Chinese zither, which brings this film a sensuous musical score. The film is ravishing to watch and the figures' movements reach a surprising effect of ups and downs. The messages sent by this children's film from last century are direct and far more impressive than any movie in these days. People will never forget the scene that the little boy stands in the rain and cut his own throat with a sword, with tears gathered in his eyes.

A captivating Chinese animation

[Rectangular_businessman · 9/10 · 31 August 2023]

An enchanting Chinese animated film which adapts a mythological tale in a rather whimsical manner, almost akin to a fairytale.

Just compare this with the dull, rather uninspired way in which Hollywood tends to adapt Greek mythology, often removing what made those tales unique and timeless in order to turn into generic adventure tales.

By contrast, this fully embraces the strangeness from myths, resulting into a joyful experience, giving the story a proper other-worldy feel through its delicate visuals. Like I said, before it's very reminiscent of a fairytale or even a dream in a couple of sequences.

Funny how many elements from the plot still seem to have a strong influence in modern eastern fiction: Ne Zha in many ways feels a bit like Goku in the first Dragon Ball series, being able to perform impressive physical tasks in sharp contrast with his childlike appearance. The same can be said about his carefree and sometimes reckless behavior.

Like Goku, he is also a very charismatic character. Brave and strongwilled, yet at the same time quite innocent; just as many heroes from shonen fighting series.

It would be nice to see more Chinese mythology adapted into animation, instead of focusing only in Journey to the West. (I liked a lot Havoc in Heaven, but the rich mythology and fiction from that country certainly can more to offer than just the tale from Sun Wukong, right?)

Notes on the DVD-- REAL Peak Achievement of traditional Chinese animation

[dont_b_so_BBC · 10/10 · 23 June 2005]

The 25th Anniversary DVD of "Nezha Nao Hai" (Nezha Conquers the Dragon King) is REALLY a well-remastered DVD with (Chinese &) English subtitles! It totally wipes the floor with Disney's Mulan (just my personal fanatical opinion) in terms of Chinese fantasy art and, of course, kung-fu, animation.

In my opinion, this is REAL Peak Achievement of traditional Chinese animation because Shanghai Animation Film Studio built on the achievements of Uproar in Heaven (Da Hao Tian Gong, 1965) and threw in every visual and musical trick available to the studio in 1979.

And the English subtitles are quite well done, except in places where the translation is a bit too literal (i.e. doesn't flow in modern English). Of course, the English subs simplify the story in the sense that some nuances of the Chinese dialogue doesn't come through-- e.g when the red, black and white Dragon King greets the blue/green Dragon King as "Sire", the point that the blue/green Dragon King is the eldest brother is lost in translation.

But then the story is already simplified from the book (and Nezha's mother & 2 elder brothers never appear), so the film is only around 1 hour and is easy enough to follow without subs. But be warned! Unlike Uproar in Heaven which a happy ending to fit a film format (the Monkey King's adventures actually goes on for another 90 chapters or so), all the cruel elements of Nezha's story has been retained....

Great childhood memory

[DES-9 · 10/10 · 26 November 2003]

The English title is "Little Nezha" (Nai-ya), it tells the story of an emperor's wife laying an egg instead of giving birth, the emperor is outraged, however before he cuts the egg with his sword in anger, his son is born from the egg and givin special powers from a wise old man (Tai-yee) to battle the 5 dragon kings terrorising china.

This is superb traditional Chinese animation, the dubbing isn't amazing (what dubs are??), but acceptable. Kids and adults will enjoy this, though there is some shocking scenes, though I didn't mind them at all when I was a kid. The music alone is amazing, very atmospheric and memorable. Find this on VHS on ebay, I did!! You wont regret it.

The second Chinese animated film I had watched online

[ja_kitty_71 · 10/10 · 9 May 2009]

Like I said (again), animation is an art form, and I saw that in a few countries in the world, there is some excellent animation. After watching online the 2004 Chinese animated film The Butterfly Lovers, though it was originally made in Taiwan on December 31, 2003, I had gotten curious about Chinese animation. So on YouTube and on another video site, I watched the dubbed version and the original version of the film Nezha Conquers the Dragon King, and I loved both versions. And like I said, the world has lots of wonderful stories to love and to share with other people, and the character of Nezha has frequently appeared in Chinese mythology and ancient Chinese literature, and this animated film tells the story of one of these Chinese legends.

The story begins with Li Jing, a military leader of the Chentangguan Pass, who is informed that after a three and a half-year pregnancy, his wife has given birth to something that looks like a cross between an egg and a lotus flower. Before Li could strike the egg or flower with his sword (as he considered it to be something unnatural), the bud opened and revealed a small boy. Not long after, a sage named Taiyi Zhenren comes to express his congratulations. He names the boy "Nezha," gives him the Firmament Ring and the Armillary Damask Silk, and accepts Nezha as his disciple.

When Nezha is seven years old, the Chentangguan Pass is afflicted with a severe drought, and Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, turns a blind eye to the offerings he receives from the people that are suffering from the drought. And worse, he orders Li Gen, his Yaksha guard (an evil ogre-like spirit in Buddhist religion), to hunt and kidnap the town's children so he can eat them. Li Gen managed to kidnap one of the children, who were Nezha's two friends, who were riding Nezha's deer friend along the beach. Of course, Nezha defeats the Yaksha, and in a rage over Nezha's defiance to his authority, the Dragon King sends his third (and probably favorite) son, Prince Ao Bing, to capture and kill Nezha. I won't give you any more details; you'll have to see the film for yourself.

So overall, this is one of the best animated movies ever made. With plenty of fantasy, adventure, humor, shocking surprises, and beautiful animation, I loved it!

One of the best

[martin-1018 · 10/10 · 28 December 2005]

My family (wife, young boy and girl) saw this on BBC TV one Christmas, (maybe 1990? - they'd have been 6 and 5 then) and videoed it. It has since become a staunch family favourite. Graphically superb and totally psychedelic, it is also one of the most spiritually moving and profound things I have ever seen. Good versus evil, in the form of a child with spirit guides, versus nasty dragons. Some of the lines are fantastic, too: "Now we can grow even more wicked - let's create some new diseases" - (just like they do at Porton Down in Wiltshire.

But that raises an interesting point - I've only ever seen it on sale with a Mandarin sound track, and English sub-titles - but the broadcast version was in English with no sub-titles. Anyone know anything about that? An absolute must-see for anyone with any sort of taste at all.

A link to those wanting to watch this...

[lhood-2 · 10/10 · 19 September 2007]

Here is a link to the you tube that contains this movie, the English version, it also contains the Mandarin version without subs (but original score). I used to watch this as a child too, when I was 5 or 6 (1995/6) but lost my copy.

It's a long forgotten gem, the plot (i think is an old Chinese fable) and the music score is fantastic. I don't think it is still produced for the UK market, however, I did hear of a 25th anniversary edition DVD being released in China.

Hope that helps a little.

Laurence

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kty_rVj1Va8&mode=related&search=

Chinese version: WONDERFUL English dubbed version: A TRAVESTY

[Angel_Meiru · 10/10 · 6 April 2008]

I remember Nezha being my first Chinese Anime I have ever seen (for the longest time, I thought this movie was Japanese or Korean, since I seen both Japanese and Korean dubbed versions of this movie).

The animation is beautifully crafted and very detailed. The plot is also good too. It's about a boy named Nezha (I thought he was a girl at first though. What is it with anime and feminine looking males?), his fight against the dragons, the sacrifices that he made and his resurrection into godhood.

However, avoid the English dubbed version of this movie like a virus. The dubbing is awful. Nezha sounds stuffy, the fake Chinese accents were grating and worse yet, the authentic Chinese soundtrack was replaced with cheesy synthesizer music. Worst Americanization of an Anime (besides Lensman, another victim of bad Americanization back in the 1980's). No wonder China has been angry at the western world.

Luckily, it looks like the subtitled version is more widely available. I recommend you seeing this. It is proof that not all anime is 100% Japanese.

Fantastic albeit 'disturbing'

[Grantmitch1-732-931956 · 10/10 · 8 March 2015]

Like many of the reviewers I thoroughly enjoy this odd Chinese animation. It is well animated and the sound track is particularly enjoyable. I watched this animation numerous times throughout my childhood without recoiling at any of the 'shocking' scenes nor considering it particularly 'disturbing'. That being said, I remember when I first went to University I showed the animation to a few friends and they found the animation to be very disturbing for an animation that children would have watched.

Given this, I would recommend any parent watches Nezha before allowing their kids to watch it. If you were okay with uncensored Dragonball and other Japanese animes then Nezha should be no problem.

I would thoroughly recommend it though - very enjoyable film, and highly memorable.

he is a lonely runaway.

[langearonesrivera · 9/10 · 24 November 2023]

Jiang Xun wrote about Nezha in the Loneliness Six Lectures. He said, 'I remember when I was young, I read that Nezha returned his physical body to his parents, turning into a ghost, and finally found something unrelated to his parents as a physical support. I vaguely felt that it was the betrayal I most wanted to do at that time. I didn't want to have blood, blood was a huge burden and constraint on me.'. Parents are our biggest original sin, a debt that we cannot repay in our lifetime, that is, we owe him flesh and blood. Therefore, when the novel describes Nezha cutting his bones to return his father, and cutting his flesh to return his mother, it will bring such a great shock to readers. However, this character has been controversial in the past, and people dare not discuss him because under the premise of filial piety, he is a lonely runaway.