New Gods: Nezha Reborn
While living as an ordinary deliveryman and motor racing fan, Nezha encounters old nemeses and must rediscover his powers to protect his loved ones.
The film earned $70.0M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Zhao Ji's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when The Dragon Clan's enforcers directly threaten or harm Li Yunxiang's friends and family, possibly destroying their business or injuring someone he cares about. This personal attack makes it impossible for him to remain uninvolved—the old life of keeping his head down is shattered.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Li Yunxiang makes the active choice to embrace his identity as Nezha and fight the Dragon Clan. This may involve a public act of defiance, accepting the mentor's training, or deliberately provoking the dragons. He crosses from ordinary citizen into the role of mythic hero-rebel., moving from reaction to action.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat A false victory: Li Yunxiang achieves a major win against the Dragon Clan, perhaps publicly humiliating them or rescuing captives. He seems to be winning, but this success raises the stakes—Ao Guang takes the conflict personally and the full wrath of the Dragon King is about to be unleashed. The game changes from skirmishes to all-out war., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: A mentor figure dies, Kasha is captured or gravely wounded, or Li Yunxiang suffers a crushing defeat that seemingly ends his rebellion. The whiff of death is present—either literal death of a loved one or the death of hope itself. He is broken, powerless, and the Dragon Clan appears invincible., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The synthesis moment: Li Yunxiang integrates his modern identity with his ancient power, combining street-smart cunning with divine abilities. A key realization—perhaps from Kasha's words, a mentor's final lesson, or his own epiphany—shows him how to defeat Ao Guang. He rises with new clarity and determination for the final battle., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
New Gods: Nezha Reborn's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping New Gods: Nezha Reborn against these established plot points, we can identify how Zhao Ji utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish New Gods: Nezha Reborn within the animation genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupTheme
A mentor figure or friend speaks about destiny and the cycle of oppression, hinting that true power comes from accepting who you really are and fighting for those who cannot fight for themselves—the core question of identity versus inherited fate.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the cyberpunk Donghai City ruled by the Donghai Dragon Clan crime family. We meet Li Yunxiang's found family—his friends, his community in the lower city, and hints of romantic interest Kasha. The Dragon Clan's brutal control over the city becomes clear through extortion, violence, and exploitation.
Disruption
The Dragon Clan's enforcers directly threaten or harm Li Yunxiang's friends and family, possibly destroying their business or injuring someone he cares about. This personal attack makes it impossible for him to remain uninvolved—the old life of keeping his head down is shattered.
Resistance
Li Yunxiang resists the call to fight back, knowing the Dragon Clan's power. Strange phenomena begin occurring—unexplained strength, visions of the ancient past. The Third Elder or another mentor figure appears, revealing that Li Yunxiang is the reincarnation of Nezha, destined to confront the Dragon King once again. He debates whether this is madness or truth.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Li Yunxiang makes the active choice to embrace his identity as Nezha and fight the Dragon Clan. This may involve a public act of defiance, accepting the mentor's training, or deliberately provoking the dragons. He crosses from ordinary citizen into the role of mythic hero-rebel.
Mirror World
Deepening connection with Kasha, who represents the human cost of the conflict and the future worth fighting for. She may challenge his recklessness or inspire his resolve, embodying the theme that heroism is about protecting others, not just fulfilling destiny.
Premise
The "fun and games" of being Nezha reborn—training montages, awakening ancient powers, spectacular action sequences against Dragon Clan forces. Li Yunxiang discovers his divine weapons and abilities, scores initial victories, and becomes a symbol of resistance. The audience experiences the thrilling promise of a mythic hero in a cyberpunk world.
Midpoint
A false victory: Li Yunxiang achieves a major win against the Dragon Clan, perhaps publicly humiliating them or rescuing captives. He seems to be winning, but this success raises the stakes—Ao Guang takes the conflict personally and the full wrath of the Dragon King is about to be unleashed. The game changes from skirmishes to all-out war.
Opposition
The Dragon Clan strikes back with overwhelming force. Ao Guang and Ao Bing reveal greater powers and ruthless tactics. Li Yunxiang's allies are hunted, the city turns more dangerous, and his personal flaws—perhaps recklessness or inability to fully accept his destiny—create complications. The opposition closes in from all sides, and the cost of resistance becomes devastatingly clear.
Collapse
All is lost: A mentor figure dies, Kasha is captured or gravely wounded, or Li Yunxiang suffers a crushing defeat that seemingly ends his rebellion. The whiff of death is present—either literal death of a loved one or the death of hope itself. He is broken, powerless, and the Dragon Clan appears invincible.
Crisis
Li Yunxiang's dark night of the soul. He grieves the losses, questions whether he can truly be Nezha, and faces the despair of apparent failure. In the darkness, he processes what he's learned—about himself, about the true meaning of heroism, about why the fight matters beyond destiny.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The synthesis moment: Li Yunxiang integrates his modern identity with his ancient power, combining street-smart cunning with divine abilities. A key realization—perhaps from Kasha's words, a mentor's final lesson, or his own epiphany—shows him how to defeat Ao Guang. He rises with new clarity and determination for the final battle.
Synthesis
The finale: Li Yunxiang, fully embodying Nezha, storms the Dragon Clan fortress. Epic battle sequences showcase his complete mastery of powers. He confronts Ao Bing and finally Ao Guang in spectacular combat. The fight resolves not just with physical victory but thematic completion—breaking the cycle of oppression and proving that destiny can be chosen, not just inherited.
Transformation
Li Yunxiang stands in a transformed Donghai City, no longer a powerless delivery driver but a hero who has freed his people. The final image mirrors the opening—same streets, same neon lights—but now he is empowered, purposeful, and the city has hope. The boy who denied his destiny has become the god who chose it.