What the success of Wukong, Nezha and DeepSeek holds for the future of China-US rivalry

Even for those who take no interest in traditional Chinese mythology, the phenomenal success of the animated blockbuster Nezha 2 deserves attention.

The story of a rebellious “demon” boy who dared to challenge the celestial order and take destiny into his own hands has captivated millions in China.

The animation, loosely based on traditional Chinese mythology, is set to become the first Chinese film to gross 10 billion yuan (US$1.37 billion).

This goes beyond a successful business story. It offers a glimpse into the psyche of the generation of young Chinese that could shape the world’s geopolitical dynamics.

Nezha 2, a sequel to the 2019 smash-hit Nezha, comes right on the heels of China’s first blockbuster video game, Black Myth: Wukong, which has quickly established itself as the world’s second most played game of all time by concurrent players after its release in 2024.

That year there was also the 30,000 Miles from Changan, an animated historical drama and China’s second-highest grossing animation film.