The Monkey King: Reborn
西游记之再世妖王
Detailed parental analysis
Monkey King Reborn is a fantastical animated film with a vibrant and spectacular atmosphere, inspired by the Chinese literary classic Journey to the West. The story follows the Monkey King and his companions on a new adventure in which he must face threatening demons whilst learning to overcome his arrogance. The film is primarily aimed at children from 6-7 years old and their families, with an accessible tone despite a sustained action pace.
Violence
The film strings together combat sequences at a very high pace, pitting the Monkey King and his allies against a gallery of demons and fantastical creatures. The violence remains largely cartoonish, in keeping with the conventions of action animation for children, but a few moments display a level of brutality slightly above average and occasional blood details. Monsters and antagonists are designed to impress rather than terrify, which keeps everything within an acceptable register for young viewers. The omnipresence of action may however overwhelm children who are particularly sensitive or less drawn to this very dense format.
Underlying Values
The narrative constructs its central arc around the Monkey King's learning of empathy, a character initially impulsive and self-centred. His emotional relationship with an endearing secondary character gradually drives him to act for others rather than for his own glory. This evolution is readable and sincere, even though it follows a classic pattern of the hero who grows through hardship. The resolution of conflicts systematically passes through physical confrontation, which is worth putting into perspective with a child.
Strengths
The animation is visually polished, with colourful environments and an artistic direction that pays homage to the aesthetics of traditional Chinese mythology whilst anchoring it in a dynamic contemporary style. The character of the Fruit Spirit, the true emotional engine of the film, is crafted with a tenderness that contrasts effectively with the hustle of combat sequences and gives the story its emotional grounding. For families unfamiliar with classical Chinese literature, the film constitutes an accessible and stimulating gateway into a rich cultural universe, bearing a long narrative tradition.
Age recommendation and discussion points
The film is suitable from age 6, provided the child is not particularly sensitive to intense action and fantastical creatures. After viewing, two angles are worth exploring with them: why does the Monkey King change his behaviour as the story progresses, and can all problems be solved through fighting, or are there other ways to be brave?
Synopsis
When the irritable monkey king visits a temple together with his master Tang Monk, he feels offended because of a trifle and thereupon accidentally destroys a magic tree growing on the sacred ground. This brings an ancient demon king back to life, who promptly kidnaps Tang Monk to take revenge for his long imprisonment. The monkey king and his followers have only three days to not only save their master but also to prevent the demon king from regaining his full powers and destroying the world…
About this title
- Format
- Feature film
- Year
- 2021
- Runtime
- 1h 35m
- Countries
- China
- Original language
- ZH
- Directed by
- Wang Yunfei
- Main cast
- Jiang Bian, Haiting Cai, Su Shangqing, Zhang Lei, Zhang He, Lin Qiang, Liu Sicen, Wang Chenguang, Baomu Zhongyang, Sheng Feng
- Studios
- Filmko Film, ITS CARTOON
Content barometer
- Violence2/5Moderate
- Fear2/5A few scenes
- Sexuality0/5None
- Language0/5None
- Narrative complexity1/5Accessible
- Adult themes0/5None
Watch-outs
- Violence