Ne Zha 2 * Incredibly Stunning Animation, Great Humor and Meaningful Themes
Sunday, August 24th, 2025
A rebellious young boy, Ne Zha, is feared by the gods and born to mortal parents with wild, uncontrolled powers. Now he’s faced with an ancient force intent on destroying humanity, he must grow up to become the hero the world needs.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Elsy S. comments, “I love the movie Ne Zha 2, because of the humorous touches, incredible animation, and the several meaningful themes, such as family and good versus evil. It is extremely complex, and the characters all have their own stories.” Harper B. adds, “This film surprised me in all the ways a person can be surprised. Starting with the phenomenal animation, this film truly brings the story to life. The battle scenes in particular are stunning visually and very creative.” See their full reviews below.
Ne Zha 2
By Elsy S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
I love the movie Ne Zha 2, because of the humorous touches, incredible animation, and the several meaningful themes, such as family and good versus evil. It is extremely complex, and the characters all have their own stories.
The story follows Ne Zha (Crystal Lee), a three-year-old demon boy, a child of two generals, who was reduced to a soul, but gets his body back. His best friend and previous mortal enemy, Ao Bing (Aleks Le) pushes himself too hard in a battle, and the two souls must share Ne Zha’s body. To get a body for Ao Bing, Ne Zha must pass a series of trials, but Taiyi Zhenren (Rick Zieff) has other ideas. He passes the trials, but his village gets attacked, and in the end, there’s a massive battle of betrayal and heartache for which Ne Zha assumes his teenage form (Griffin Puatu).
The animation is incredible! This is visual storytelling at its best. This is a heartfelt movie with heartbreaking, yet sweet moments. One thing that really impressed me is how intense this film is; it fully immersed me in the story, as if I was a part of it. The message is inspiring and hopeful, which really gives the movie a meaningful touch. Ne Zha is portrayed as a demon child grappling with feelings of being replaced; Crystal Lee and Griffin Puatu provide the voice of Ne Zha, for his child and teenage form, very well. Michelle Yeoh and Vincent Rodriguez III portray the emotional depth of their characters so well with their voices. Ao Bing, one of the characters with the most internal conflict, is voiced by Aleks Le, whose voice perfectly matches the character. My favorite scene is when Ao Bing and Ne Zha break free of Master Wuliang’s (Robert Clotworthy) trap.
The film’s message is to be yourself. It reminds us of how we are perfect just the way we are. Be forewarned that it has several violent scenes, many deaths, and mild language, making it slightly unsuitable for younger children.
Ne Zha 2 gets 4.5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 12 and up. It releases in theaters on August 22, 2025.
Ne Zha 2
By Harper B., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
Ne Zha 2 is an epic film about two destined enemies becoming friends. I love this film because of the characters and the emotional aspect.
Ne Zha 2 is about a young boy, Ne Zha (Crystal Lee) who is a demon and just wants to be normal and fit in. His parents, Li Jing (Vincent Rodriguez III) and Lady Yin (Michelle Yeoh), try their best to help Ne Zha be a better person. He meets a friend Ao Bing (Aleks Le) who is a dragon and contains the spirit pill. Ne Zha and Ao Bing team up to get Ao Bing’s body back.
This film surprised me in all the ways a person can be surprised. Starting with the phenomenal animation, this film truly brings the story to life. The battle scenes in particular are stunning visually and very creative. My favorite scene is the final battle scene. The background music is astonishing and the sound effects are extremely realistic. I really enjoyed watching Lady Yin evolve into the caring mother she was born to be. I also enjoyed watching Taiyi Zhenren (Rick Zieff), taking Ne Zha under his wing. This film is an emotional roller coaster — it made me laugh, cry, and truly brought me joy like I have never experienced before from watching a film. Compared to Ne Zha, Ne Zha 2 is even better. The characters are very similar with some of the same qualities and some differences which made watching the movie fun. Ne Zha 2 taught me life is not in black and white, there is some gray too. The people of Chentang Pass come to understand why people do certain things to protect their people.
The film’s message is that not everyone is all good or all bad. When we see other’s differences and celebrate them, then we can all become one team and defeat the real enemy. Note that there are some violent scenes that are inappropriate for younger children.
Ne Zha 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 12-m to 18, plus adults. It will be released in theaters on August 22, 2025.
The eighth album by award-winning children’s music artist Andy Z is brimming with fervor, fun, and sincerity. It features a well-balanced mix of stand-out original songs and kids’ classics ranging from lighthearted to heartfelt, playful to deeply thoughtful.
I like Andy Z – My Voice because it’s fun, playful and some of the songs have an underlying message.
Andy Z’s vocals are amazing; he enunciates clearly and uses language that young children are familiar with. He really makes sure that the listener understands what he’s saying. Also, the recording quality is outstanding; there is no static or background noise. The variety of genres is noteworthy. I love how he mixes in multiple genres like jazz for “Song For My Baby” and soft rock in “Buzzabee.” In addition, Andy Z’s way of creating ear-wormy tunes and fun lyrics, some of the songs in this album are deeper than you think. For example, in “My Voice” he references the beauty of free speech, and in “It’s Not Your Fault” he explains that not everything that happens to you is your fault. This album is by far one of the best children’s albums I am aware of. My favorite song is the one about the tipping boat, because it really shows Andy Z’s fun lyricism.
I like the music album Andy Z – My Voice because it’s upbeat, engaging and gets you moving. I love that there are a variety of different instruments played in every song and, even though it gets a little silly at times, I think younger kids will love it.
Also, something that is fun and captivating on the album is having kids join Andy Z on various songs. One of the most exciting things is that there are some songs that kids may recognize and be excited to hear his interpretation of a familiar tune. I like how at the end of the soundtrack it settles kids down to get ready for bed and go to sleep. I actually think I prefer the instrumentation and background music better than the actual lyrics and I didn’t particularly care for some of the songs. One of the other things I really like is how Andy Z takes a silly subject and turns it into an interesting, catchy song. It’s memorable to me, and I think it is very amazing to be able to do that. There is also a special collaboration with the 123 Andres, and they sing “Flutter Flutter Butterfly” in Spanish, which is really cool.
Andy Z – My Voice is a family-friendly music album that features a plethora of tracks that help inspire, educate, and entertain young children. The humorous and engaging lyrics, the sound quality of the instruments, and the variety of tones are what make this album worth listening to!
Vocal expression is abundant, and his diction allows for the lyrics to be heard with clarity. In addition, every song utilizes a wide range of dynamics. The lullabies like “Song For My Baby” and “Lullaby” demonstrate Andy Z’s ability to modulate his voice to a softer pianissimo dynamic, while maintaining clarity in his enunciation. Much livelier tracks like “Five Green Speckled Frogs” are very humorous, which provides a stark contrast in tone and expression to the more reverberative songs like “It’s Not Your Fault.” On the other hand, the structure of the album and the random organization causes a bit of a lack of continuity. While the order of the songs may feel somewhat scattered and thematically different, Andy Z pays a meaningful tribute to the different styles of music, from original compositions to revamped classics.
The music in Andy Z – My Voice covers a variety of upbeat danceable tunes and insightful lyrics. This album is a musical gift for your child – expertly conceived and performed.
After eight albums, Andy Z keeps honing his craft and this album is a result of his dedication to his music and continued development of his personal ‘voice.’
As we share, as Andy Z has done, with this album, My Voice, we hope that our many years of experience and awareness will transpose and touch the hearts of many others. This album does exactly that.Why is My Voice a KIDS FIRST! All-Star? After more than 8,000 live performances in every imaginable setting and climate, I can say, “It takes one to know one.” Andy’s a kindred spirit with an irresistible appeal to kids—and, yes, parents too. They’ll grin at the familiar riffs and nod knowingly. (I suspect he knows more than four chords.) Like the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper or Magical Mystery Tour, Andy invites us into his world—full of musical colors, funny voices, and whimsical twists—guiding his audience on a magical journey and bringing them back safe, sound, and a little richer for the ride. Andy Z hits all the right notes—and a few delightfully unexpected ones—reminding us that the best music for kids is music everyone loves. We’ll be sitting by the headsets waiting for your next album, so don’t wait too long. Catch you on the flip side!
A young boy and friends, with the help of his grandfather who served in World War II, his loyal friends, and his love of history, takes on the neighborhood bully and learns the importance of teamwork, family, and friendship.
Operation Friendship is a wonderful film about two enemies becoming friends. Having friends is important but making them is even more important.
This film is fantastic; I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of the film. The costumes are realistic, while none stand out. My favorite character is Phoebe (Gabriella Dillenback) because she doesn’t mind hanging out with all boys if she gets the opportunity to support her friends. The scene that really stuck to me is when Chaz’s dad (James Arnold Taylor) and grandpa (Vincent Dantone) reveal their surprise to prove that they are really on Chaz’s side. My least favorite scene is when Chaz has a nightmare because it seems unnecessary. The actors’ performances are magnificent. They are in character throughout the film.
The grandpa’s acting of Grandpa especially stands out because he can be fun or funny but also has the ability to talk seriously with Chaz, his grandson. Grandpa, dad, and Chaz have a very special relationship. We see this at the beginning of the film when the mom, Lisa Smith (Libby Smallbone) goes to the spa and the boys go have fun together. The background music is superb, especially during the battle scene. It truly adds drama and depth to the plot. The character’s facial expressions also add depth and drama to the plot. I truly enjoyed this film because it surprised me.
I like Operation Friendship because of its faith-based storyline, the honoring of soldiers, and the action-packed thrill. I also like it because of the grandpa who is funny and repeats things over and over.
The main characters are Chaz Smith (Izaak Bellis) and Phoebe (Gabriella Dillenback). I like how Chaz and his grandpa always play with toy army men and how, in the morning, grandpa blows a trumpet to wake Chaz up. I also like that, with the help of his grandfather who served in World War II, and his loyal friends they were able to take the neighborhood bully down. I was confused about exactly what the story is about. Another thing I don’t like is the dream, which I found a bit disturbing. In spite of all his challenges, I like how Chaz stands up for what he believes. It seems that Chaz’s friends criticize Phoebe a lot, which I didn’t care for. I like how the camera zooms in on the dirt to make it look like a real battle field.
The photography is pretty good, especially the shots with the background scenery. The graphics stand out because they are good crisp.
Follow the temple cat, Little Ba, as she searches for her lost companion, the initiate Tsillah. The little cat travels through history for nine lifetimes learning lessons along the way. When she finally reunites with Tsillah, she is rewarded with a final choice.
The story of The Nine Lives Of Little Ba is almost exactly what it sounds like. It follows Little Ba, a cat, as she experiences nine different lives with the hope of reuniting with her lost friend, Tsillah. The story begins with a young girl, Tsillah, at a temple school, learning the skills of mindfulness, reflection, and telepathy. She meets Little Ba, and the two form an emotional bond but are separated. Little Ba was not trained to be a proper companion for Tsillah and when she meets with the High Council of Cats in the interlife, is given the option to experience nine lives, learn lessons along the way, and reunite with the soul of Tsillah. Little Ba accepts the challenge and thrives throughout each very different life.
This story focuses on Little Ba’s journeys through nine lives in order to reunite with her initiate, Tsillah, after they become separated in the dream state. While sitting inside the open doorway to Tsillah’s subconscious, Little Ba tries to protect Tsillah from her fears, but they become too overwhelming. This forces Little Ba to slam the dream door thus becoming shut away from Tsillah’s earthly life as well as Tsillah. Heartbroken, Little Ba begs for a second chance to prove herself to the High Council of Cats. Her wish is granted, and she embarks on an adventure of many lifetimes.
The book centers on a little cat, Little Ba and her quest to reunite with her companion, Tsillah. She experiences nine lives and faces all kinds of situations – some scary, some funny, and some sad. The author, Genie Valen, is fabulous at providing unforgettable details that make you feel as if you’re right there in each of Ba’s lives.
The storyline follows Little Ba, a cat who is paired with a young temple initiate, Tsillah. One day, Tsillah, in her sleep, reaches a door, of which she is very fearful, causing her to imagine monsters. Little Ba chooses to protect her, and the door is closed, with Tsillah on one side, and Little Ba on the other. Little Ba then meets the Council of Cats, who explain that she will be given nine lives to find and guide the soul of Tsillah. Little Ba goes through nine different lives, each with new experiences and lessons to be learned, and eventually finds the soul of Tsillah.
In Freakier Friday, Curtis and Lohan reprise their roles as Tess and Anna Coleman. The story picks up years after Tess (Curtis) and Anna (Lohan) endured an identity crisis. Anna now has a daughter of her own and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. As they navigate the myriad challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might indeed strike twice.
