Chinese animated film 'Ne Zha 2' earns acclaim from Singapore's show-business insiders

Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" has gained acclaim from industry insiders in Singapore who hailed its stunning visuals and compelling storyline ahead if its wide release in the Southeast Asian country.

After smashing box office records worldwide, the hit film launched in Singapore on March 6, but a group of lucky fans and invited show-business insiders graced the premiere a few days earlier.

Joyce Lee, director of local film distributor Encore Films, said the viewing bolstered her confidence in the film's potential to take Singapore by storm.

"Over the last 22 years of my career, I've never seen a response like that, I've never seen anticipation from the audience, all the news it has made on social media. I've not seen something like that. So initially I was thinking probably I would be very happy if it could do 2 million dollars in Singapore and that would have broken all records for Chinese films in Singapore, but then after today, after everybody's response, I think I'm actually adjusting it, I'm being very optimistic here, so I think 5 million. I'm gunning for that," said Lee

As a sequel to the 2019 animated hit "Ne Zha", the latest installment in this rebellious diety's saga has captivated audiences worldwide. The film is now the world's highest-grossing animated film of all time and only the seventh film to pass the 2-billion-dollar mark globally, joining the likes of "Titanic" and "Avatar".

If it can achieve similar success in Singapore, that would be fantastic news for The Projector, an independent cinema that specializes in art-house films and is committed to creating a space where audiences can experience different types of film.

Impressed with the success of "Ne Zha 2" and other Chinese releases, The Projector's program curator Adeleena Araib said she plans to bring more Chinese content to Singapore.

"I also think that Chinese animated films, and also Chinese films in general, are getting a lot more traction for diverse audiences around the world who want something different other than the traditional Western style of animation or even the storytelling," she said.

For others at the pre-viewing, "Ne Zha 2" represents the advancement of quality cinema in the Asia-Pacific.

"I'm very proud that an Asian animation film is completely owning the scene and I think it deserves every bit of credit, because the animation is 10 upon 10, the storyline is 10 upon 10, so I'm really happy that they are showing our fight, our might and our skill set in animation," Isaac Ong, musician and founder of Colours Global.

Chinese animated film 'Ne Zha 2' earns acclaim from Singapore's show-business insiders

The fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) opened in south China's island province of Hainan on Sunday with a record scale of global participation.

More than 1,700 companies from 71 countries and regions are participating in China's only national-level exhibition focused on consumer goods, showcasing over 4,100 brands.

Two special exhibition zones, respectively, on artificial intelligence (AI) and low-altitude economy applications, are set for the first time in Hall No. 1, where nearly 90 enterprises are showcasing their newest products and services, including more than 20 leading corporations in consumer electronics and cutting-edge sci-techs.

Brands like Huawei and Unitree are demonstrating products such as the latest smartphones and humanoid robots.

Live displays of low-altitude techs, such as Xpeng AeroHT's "flying car" and EHang's drones for cross-sea transport and tourism, are taking center stage.

China's Ministry of Commerce, one of the organizers of the CICPE, launched the "Shopping in China" campaign on Sunday morning, a nationwide initiative promoting shopping, dining, and tourism, as well as exhibitions and performances with about 30 activities throughout the year.

"Since five years (ago), we [have been participating in this] Hainan expo. We have now a company in Hainan. I am now living in Hainan. We have customers all over China. It's very big. The opportunity of China is the size of the market," said Ramel Francois Felix, CEO of Les Vignerons du Castelas.

"When we joined the consumer products expo last year, 80 percent of the exhibits we brought here were produced exactly according to designs for Pakistani people. So this year, we have brought different exhibits, many of which were designed with Chinese cultural elements," said a Pakistani exhibitor.

The first Singaporean exhibition group of enterprises appeared at the expo.

"Singapore selected five enterprises to attend the fifth CICPE. China's huge consumer market is their primary focus, and they hope this expo will help them enter the Chinese market and find some good business partners to sell their products better," said Liu Peng, chief representative with the Singapore representative office of the Hainan Provincial Bureau of International Economic Development.

The 2025 CICPE is bridging global brands with China's market, highlighting Hainan's role as a key free trade hub.

China International Consumer Products Expo opens with record scale of global participation