Calling for a Hero: The Displacement of the Nezha Archetypal Image from Chinese Animated Film Nezha Naohai (1979) to New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021)

From the classical Chinese literary masterpiece Investiture of Gods to contemporary film animation, Nezha’s image is profound. Examining portrayals Nezha, namely in those most celebrated animated films, we argue that his role as epitome a ‘god like figure’ constant displacement and return. Using framework archetype advanced by Northrop Frye, with more pluralistic myth analysis extension found critique Gilbert Durand, this article examines multi-layered mythical mini structures within return explore themes, images, represented character from perspective history culture. We animation expresses need call for traditional heroic particular era. As such, intertextuality exposes profound inner patterns form refashion collective unconscious, performing recurring mirror symbolically inform transform human experiences China.