Little Nezha Fights Great Dragon Kings

A production of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio, Little Nezha boasts superb animation, highlighted in a slightly letterboxed format. Little Nezha, born a young boy out of the unfurling petals of a flower (in a lovely scene which does have brief nudity), decides to take on the daunting task of taming the malicious Great Dragons who have subjugated the populace for many years. Near his home lives the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, a loathsome serpent who eats children. While playing, Little Nezha sees children being led into the sea by the Dragon King's son. In a spectacular battle the boy pulls out the dragon's spine, physically reducing him to the jellylike creature he really is. The Dragon King is apoplectic, and harangues Little Nezha's father about dickering with royalty. After receiving a stern reprimand from his father, Little Nezha lays his sword against his own neck and buys the rice paddy right then and there. Fortunately, the boy is reborn, and this time he goes after the Dragon King with a vengeance. Western audiences are bound to find the traditional Eastern code of honor, as typified by Little Nezha's suicide, a tad extreme. For this, and other reasons, the program is not really suitable for small children. Older children and adult aficionados of quality animation, however, will find much to appreciate in this tale inspired by the Dragon-Kings of Chinese mythology. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (See IVOR THE ENGINE AND THE ELEPHANTS for availability.)