There are not a lot of months left in 2024 for China to churn out more animated wonders for its citizens. Not everything is expected to get an international release, but I’m hoping. That’s because of the works said to be coming out this year according to the website Xrender, one is more internationally known over others, and White Snake 3 has made its debut to only one part of the world fully aware and fans worldwide eager to see it!
But there’s more, and I offer my top three choices of films which has not been released yet, but deserve recognition. Not every work has their promotional material ready yet, but if that work is supposed to be coming out this year, the publicity team better start hyping these films up next month!
Ne Zha 2
At long last, a sequel to the 2019 film is coming! In the first instalment, this spunky demigod child had a lot to learn about whom to trust. It was an adventure I really loved (movie review) and wished a sequel would come sooner than later. After six long years, this continuation is finally getting made, but as for the plans of continuing the Fengshen Cinematic Universe, it may have been dropped when the pandemic changed the rules. Certain industries got hit hard, and Horgos Caitiaowu Picture, who helped produced this series of films, may have decided to change direction.
2020 saw the release of Jiang Ziya (movie review), which is set in the same universe, and after the teaser in the end credits, that may well be it. It’s unlikely the two and Monkey King will team up as suggested. The story that’s most likely to happen will see the souls of both Nezha and Ao Bing find new bodies. These two kids are ready to be reborn and that’s most likely going to be the story in this sequel.
Nie Xiao Qian
Nie Xiao Qian is a work based on one of the most adapted tales from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (Amazon link) by Pu Songling. It’s been adapted many times, and to Western audiences, this story is better known as Chinese Ghost Story. Like past takes, the tale concerns a young scholar, Ning, who falls in love with a female temple spirit. When Nie Xiaoqian can’t leave, he’ll do his best to try to free her. Depending on who is doing the work to adapt this tale, sometimes she can leave the sanctuary and other times not. In this case: he’s stolen her away and the other guardians are mad!
This work apparently came out in April in China, but as quickly as it appeared, this film’s status on whether it’ll get international screenings has disappeared. Hopefully things will change in the remaining months, as this CGI update looks as good as the 2D work back in the 90s. Until there’s official news, this phantom release deserves better!
Ban Ling Fei Du
Ban Ling Fei Du is about a wolf and a goat (actually, a goral) who must work together rather than be apart when facing a common enemy. Here, the Shanghai Art Film Studio is using a different technique to bring this tale to life. This film uses an “ink animation” style, and that’s enough to catch my interest!
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Fantastic trailers! I hope we can see more here in the States!