Chinese animated blockbuster "Ne Zha 2" debuts in S. Korea

SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese animated film "Ne Zha 2" opened Wednesday at CGV, South Korea's largest cinema chain, in both 4DX and IMAX formats, ranking third on the daily box office chart.

According to Maoyan, a Chinese movie-ticketing and film data platform, the film has grossed 15.44 billion yuan (about 2.25 billion U.S. dollars), making it the highest-grossing Chinese film ever.

Chang Ji-wook, CEO of Contents Zone, the film's South Korean distributor, said the decision to bring the movie to South Korea was driven by its strong performance in China and growing global influence.

"In terms of visual texture and production quality, it's on par with Disney, Pixar and Japanese animation," Chang said.

He added that although the film draws on Chinese mythology, its emotional core, especially its depiction of family bonds, has universal appeal and could resonate with South Korean audiences.

Kim Eun-chong, a Seoul resident who watched the film, praised its "spectacular presentation" and "smooth visuals," adding that he would recommend it to friends.

Chang said the company plans to introduce more Chinese works to the South Korean market, including the animated series "Biao Ren," which may be released later on streaming or video-on-demand platforms.