Reimagining myth and ideology in Ne Zha 2 : A multimodal critical discourse analysis

For the first time, a film from an Asian country has broken into the top 5 of the global box office, with Ne Zha 2 becoming the highest-grossing animated film worldwide. Centered on the Chinese mythological figure Ne Zha, the film demonstrates both technical sophistication and powerful narrative design. This study adopts apparatus theory to analyze both the technical apparatus and the institutional apparatus in order to understand the film’s ideological function within contemporary Chinese society. Employing multimodal critical discourse analysis, the study explores how Ne Zha 2 constructs and disseminates ideological narratives through visual storytelling, character development, and the reinterpretation of mythology. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how contemporary Chinese animation functions as a vehicle for ideological expression and cultural diplomacy, offering critical insights into the intersection of film, politics, and soft power in the context of China’s global media strategy.