China’s Base FX has recently shared insights with AWN about their impressive work on NeZha 2. Released during the Spring Festival holiday in China, the film has shattered box office records, raking in an astounding US$800 million within its first nine days. Directed by Jiaozi (Yang Yu), who also helmed the 2019 hit NeZha, this sequel continues the epic journey of one of China’s most beloved characters.

The film is set for advance screenings in the U.S. on February 12, followed by a nationwide release on February 14.

Base FX took on a significant portion of the film’s most intricate visual effects, tackling sequences that involved complex fluid simulations and large crowds, alongside various character animation segments. In total, the studio delivered over 230 shots within a demanding 12-month timeline, collaborating closely with the production team and key vendors.

Base Supervisor Tang Bing Bing remarked, “NeZha 2 presented perhaps our greatest challenge to date due to the extensive scope of work and the rapid pace required. While 18 months may seem ample, the scale of the VFX and the high production standards always made us feel like we were racing against the clock.”

“Projects like this inherently push the boundaries to create a superior film,” noted Base Producer Xu Han. “The magnitude of the shots made meeting deadlines particularly challenging. However, our team rose to the occasion, ensuring we delivered high-quality results.”

“Initially, when we reviewed the storyboards, we thought it was ‘impossible,’ but once the director articulated his vision, we devised a feasible plan within the budget and timeline,” Tang explained. “We had sequences featuring a thousand creatures leaping through lava, tethered by chains inside the Tianyuan Cauldron. There were no ‘easy’ shots in that sequence; each one pushed our team to their limits.”

NeZha 2 is produced by a consortium of companies including Chengdu Coco Cartoon Co., Ltd.; Beijing Enlight Media Co., Ltd.; Beijing Enlight Pictures Co., Ltd.; Chengdu Zizaijingjie Culture and Media Co., Ltd.; and Beijing Coloroom Technology Ltd. The film is distributed in China by Enlight Pictures and in the U.S. by CMC Pictures.

Source: Base FX