Zhang Jiaming

In Ne Zha (2019), Taiyi Zhenren sounds like someone from everyday life, despite being a Taoist immortal. Zhang Jiaming's Sichuan-accented Mandarin and lively comic delivery make the character approachable without requiring him to sound grand. We warmed to Taiyi because his ordinary manner of speaking offers welcome relief from the film's muddled mythology.

Zhang's approach draws on everyday sounds and observation, with less emphasis on polished standard Mandarin. He records from line art and limited reference material, and his facial expressions are captured for the animators to use later. That makes the acting a practical contribution to how the character will appear, as well as how he will sound. Director Jiaozi and dubbing director Chen Hao are his collaborators on both films. The consistency of Taiyi across them is worth crediting, particularly when the sequel surrounds him with so much renewed combat.

Ne Zha was Zhang's breakthrough, and Ne Zha 2 (2025) strengthened his association with Taiyi. His other work includes voicing Xiong Ba and serving as dubbing director on the animated series Monster But Wild (2023). That is evidence of work beyond this part, though our judgement rests chiefly on the two features. Taiyi gives us good reason to value his comic voice, but little basis for declaring what he might do with a substantially different character.

Zhang's appeal is not enough to make us recommend the films equally. The first earns its evening through its mischievous hero and the parents trying to protect him, despite muddled mythology and exhausting action. The sequel gives its battles more care than its storytelling, and its crude jokes and 144-minute running time wear down the pleasure. A consistent supporting performance cannot solve those problems. Start with Ne Zha, where there is more reason to care about the people between the fights.