Latest news with #NeZha
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Michelle Yeoh joins voice cast for 'Ne Zha 2' English edition
HONG KONG: When Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh first saw the film Ne Zha 2 in Hong Kong, she immediately dreamt of an English-dubbed version. The Chinese blockbuster, which has become the highest-grossing animated film of all time with over US$2.2 billion (RM9.3 billion) in ticket sales this year, seemed like a perfect fit for a global audience. Yeoh, who is fluent in English, Malay, and Cantonese, wasn't alone in her thinking. The film studio A24 was already making plans to broaden the film's appeal with an English-language version in collaboration with CMC Pictures. Yeoh was offered the role of voicing Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin. "I quickly said yes," she told The Associated Press in a recent interview. The English-dubbed version will open in more than 2,500 North American cinemas on Aug 22. The film tells the story of Ne Zha, a rebellious child born as the reincarnation of a demon to mortal parents, who is determined to prove his fate is not predetermined. In the first film, he sacrifices himself; in the second, he is put to the test to save his friend and his village. While the character might be new to American audiences, the mythology is well-known in China. Yeoh grew up watching various TV and film versions but had never seen it brought to life so vividly. The making of Ne Zha 2 took five years and involved around 4,000 people from 138 Chinese animation companies. The final film runs for an epic 143 minutes and includes 2,400 animation shots and 1,900 special effects shots. "I think the director and his amazing team pushed all the boundaries," Yeoh said. "They created this magical world that I hadn't seen before. The special effects are mind-blowing." Yeoh also approved of the translation, which she admitted was not an easy task. "With translations, a lot of the time, the nuances are lost. Because you have to sync and find the right number of words to say the same thing. So it is not easy," she said. Yeoh believes the English version will help the film resonate globally. "It's such a universal language of family, of love, of the underdog, of someone who's ostracised, misunderstood just because you're born different," she said.
BusinessToday
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BusinessToday
Michelle Yeoh Powers Ne Zha 2's Global Leap with English Dub
Michelle Yeoh has lent her voice to the English dub of the Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2, bringing the character of Lady Yin, Ne Zha's mother, vividly to life. When the Oscar-winning actress was approached with the opportunity, her response was an enthusiastic 'Hell yes.' Known for her fluency in English, Malay, and Cantonese, Yeoh saw the potential in making this celebrated film more accessible to a wider audience. Ne Zha 2 has already made history as the highest-grossing animated film of all time in China, raking in over US$2.2 billion at the box office this year. Yeoh first watched the movie in Hong Kong and immediately thought it deserved an English-language version. Despite her familiarity with Mandarin, she found the subtitles difficult to follow given the action-packed and richly detailed animation—something she felt might prove even more challenging for younger viewers. The film itself draws on one of China's most enduring folk legends. Ne Zha, a rebellious child born from the reincarnation of a demon, has to prove his destiny isn't fixed. In the first film, he sacrifices himself. In the sequel, he's faced with saving both his friend and his village. For those unfamiliar with the original, there's no need to worry—the second film retells the essentials, ensuring new audiences aren't left behind. Yeoh grew up watching various adaptations of Ne Zha on television and film, but she says nothing has matched the visual ambition of this version. Ne Zha 2 took five years to make, with the combined efforts of 4,000 people across 138 animation companies. The finished feature runs to 143 minutes, boasting 2,400 animated shots and 1,900 special effects. 'They pushed all the boundaries,' Yeoh said. 'The intricacies are mind-blowing.' Bringing the film to English-speaking audiences required careful attention to language. Yeoh admits dubbing folklore is no easy task. 'With translation, a lot of the nuances are lost,' she explained. 'The Chinese language, especially with folklore, is very poetic. I think they struck a good balance—not too classical, but contemporary enough for today.' The subtitled version of Ne Zha 2 already made an impressive impact in North America, earning over US$20 million and drawing significant attention in Chinese communities, some of whom organised screenings in rented theatres. Now, with Yeoh's involvement and the new English-language version set to open widely across North America, the film is poised to resonate even further. Yeoh sees it as a beautiful cultural bridge, inviting viewers around the world to connect with the powerful story of an underdog fighting for acceptance. CNA
CNA
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Michelle Yeoh brings Chinese blockbuster Ne Zha 2 to life in English dub
When Michelle Yeoh first saw Ne Zha 2 in Hong Kong, she walked away dreaming about a dubbed version. The Chinese blockbuster, which this year became the highest-grossing animated film of all time with over US$2.2 billion (S$2.8 billion) in ticket sales, had seemed to her like an ideal movie for a global, all-ages audience. But even she, who had the benefit of knowing Mandarin, was having trouble keeping up with the subtitles and all the spectacular things happening on screen. How would a kid stand a chance? The Oscar winner, who is fluent in English, Malay and Cantonese, wasn't alone in thinking a dub was a good idea. The film studio A24 was already making plans to broaden the audience with an English-language version in collaboration with CMC Pictures. Not too long after, Yeoh got a call asking if she wanted to voice Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin. Her response? 'Hell yes,' she told The Associated Press in a recent interview. The English-language dub opens in over 2,500 North American theatres on Aug 22. The film tells the story of a rebellious little child, Ne Zha, born as the reincarnation of a demon to mortal parents, who is out to prove his fate is not predetermined. In the first film, he sacrifices himself. In the second, he's put to the test to try to save his friend and his village. Don't worry if you haven't seen the first either – the sequel tells the audience everything they need to know. And while this character might be new to American audiences, the mythology is well known in China. Yeoh grew up watching various TV and movie versions, but had never seen it done so vividly. The making of Ne Zha 2 took five years and required the work of some 4,000 people from 138 Chinese animation companies. The finished film, which runs an epic 143 minutes, includes 2,400 animation shots and 1,900 special effects shots. 'I think the director and his amazing team, they pushed all the boundaries,' Yeoh said. 'They created this magical world that I hadn't seen to this level of superb animation before. The intricacies are mind-blowing.' Yeoh also put her stamp of approval on the translation, which she admits is a tricky art. 'With translation, a lot of the times the nuances are lost, right? Because also you have to sync and find the right number of words to say the same thing. And with the Chinese language, especially with the folklores and things like that, the way they say it is very poetic as well. So it is not easy,' she said. 'I think they struck a very good balance of not making it too classical, but also more contemporary.' North American audiences already showed interest in Ne Zha 2 earlier this year, when the subtitled version earned over US$20 million. Some Chinese communities in the US even rented theatres to screen the film. Now, Yeoh believes that the English version will help it resonate globally. 'It's such a universal language of family, of love, of the underdog, of someone who's ostracised, misunderstood just because you're born different,' Yeoh said. 'It immerses you into our culture. And it's such a beautiful way to cross that bridge.'
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Michelle Yeoh thinks Ne Zha 2 could be important 'cultural exchange' with Western cinema, Entertainment News
Michelle Yeoh thinks Ne Zha 2 could prove to be an important "cultural exchange". The 63-year-old Malaysian actress voices the part of Lady Yin - the mother of Ne Zha - in the English-language version of the Chinese box-office hit, and she is thrilled to be part of the project, suggesting that it could have a huge long-term impact on the film industry. Speaking to People, Michelle explained: "I had seen Ne Zha 2 in Chinese, and even at that time I thought, 'I hope they do an English version, because you want little kids to be able to see it and understand'. "So when they did come to me and said, 'Would this interest you?' I jumped right in … Somehow, when A24 and I get together, we get a little magic going." She believes that Ne Zha 2 could lead to more "Chinese stories" being told in Western cinemas. Michelle - who began her career in Hong Kong before making the move to Hollywood - said: "It is so important as a cultural exchange; an opening for more Chinese stories that need to be told. Especially the mythological side of it. "We're so rich in lore with the three realms, the heavens, the earth and the seas." Ne Zha 2 focuses on the Chinese mythological character Ne Zha and his friend Ao Bing. Michelle loves that the movie manages to bridge the gap between traditional Chinese mythology and young film fans. She explained: "The storytelling is so amazing because they have kept intact the classic myth of how it was before, but added that contemporary way of storytelling. [[nid:716644]] "So that's the bridge for the generational gap. Like we say, it is timeless, but timely." Michelle also revealed that Ne Zha is one of her favourite characters, revealing that she was inspired by the "spunky kid riding on fire wheels" during her younger years. Michelle - whose previous film credits include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Crazy Rich Asians, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - reflected: "This is for people who always felt that they're not seen, or they have been ostracised, or they don't look right, or they don't fit in, so that they don't give up. "And that's why Ne Zha has always been one of my favourite characters because he fought injustice. I think from the minute he was born, he felt very rejected. "When I was a kid, I used to be so fascinated and inspired by this spunky kid riding on fire wheels. I wanted to be that cool demigod that fought for justice."
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Michelle Yeoh joins voice cast for 'Ne Zha 2' English dub
When Michelle Yeoh first saw Ne Zha 2 in Hong Kong, she walked away dreaming about a dubbed version. — Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File) When Michelle Yeoh first saw Ne Zha 2 in Hong Kong, she walked away dreaming about a dubbed version. The Chinese blockbuster, which this year became the highest-grossing animated film of all time with over US$2.2bil in ticket sales, had seemed to her like an ideal movie for a global, all-ages audience. But even she, who had the benefit of knowing Mandarin, was having trouble keeping up with the subtitles and all the spectacular things happening on screen. How would a kid stand a chance? The Oscar winner, who is fluent in English, Malay and Cantonese, wasn't alone in thinking a dub was a good idea. The film studio A24 was already making plans to broaden the audience with an English-language version in collaboration with CMC Pictures. Not too long after, Yeoh got a call asking if she wanted to voice Ne Zha's mother, Lady Yin. Her response? "Hell yes,' she told The Associated Press in a recent interview. The English-language dub opens in over 2,500 North American theaters on Aug 22. This image released by A24 shows the characters Lady Yin, left, and Ne Zha in a scene from 'Ne Zha 2'. (A24 via AP) The film tells the story of a rebellious little child, Ne Zha, born as the reincarnation of a demon to mortal parents, who is out to prove his fate is not predetermined. In the first film, he sacrifices himself. In the second, he's put to the test to try to save his friend and his village. Don't worry if you haven't seen the first either - the sequel tells the audience everything they need to know. And while this character might be new to American audiences, the mythology is well known in China. Yeoh grew up watching various TV and movie versions, but had never seen it done so vividly. The making of Ne Zha 2 took five years and required the work of some 4,000 people from 138 Chinese animation companies. The finished film, which runs an epic 143 minutes, includes 2,400 animation shots and 1,900 special effects shots. "I think the director and his amazing team, they pushed all the boundaries,' Yeoh said. "They created this magical world that I hadn't seen to this level of superb animation before. The intricacies are mind-blowing.' Yeoh also put her stamp of approval on the translation, which she admits is a tricky art. "With translation, a lot of the times the nuances are lost, right? Because also you have to sync and find the right number of words to say the same thing. And with the Chinese language, especially with the folklores and things like that, the way they say it is very poetic as well. So it is not easy,' she said. "I think they struck a very good balance of not making it too classical, but also more contemporary.' North American audiences already showed interest in Ne Zha 2 earlier this year, when the subtitled version earned over US$20mil. Some Chinese communities in the U.S. even rented theaters to screen the film. Now, Yeoh believes that the English version will help it resonate globally. "It's such a universal language of family, of love, of the underdog, of someone who's ostracized, misunderstood just because you're born different,' Yeoh said. "It immerses you into our culture. And it's such a beautiful way to cross that bridge.' – AP
