^{Credit: Ne Zha 2 (A24)}

What’s getting nominated for Best Animated Feature next year? Some might point to recent releases like KPop Demon Hunters and Elio. Others may look ahead to holiday releases like Zootopia 2, In Your Dreams, and Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet. Those who follow the film festival circuit may also take note of Arco, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, and Endless Cookie. One film that people often forget is Ne Zha 2. It’s an odd omission, as the sequel to the 2019 hit is not only the 2025’s reigning box office champ, but the highest-grossing animated film of all time - the first to surpass the $2 billion mark.

Granted, a bulk of Ne Zha 2’s box office gross stems from China, where it was produced. Even in the U.S. and Canada, the film made over $20 million, which is more than admirable for an animated feature not in the English language. The film garnered critical acclaim as well, with its Rotten Tomatoes score currently sitting at 96% from 25 reviews. Some still might argue that Ne Zha 2 doesn’t have enough visibility in the States to score Oscar gold. Of course, when Spirited Away got nominated for Best Animated Feature in 2003, it had only made just over $5 million in Western theaters. Yet, it triumphed over American studio pictures like Ice Age and Lilo & Stitch. Plus, this year saw Flow win the Oscar over The Wild Robot and Inside Out 2, the latter being the highest-grossing animated film until Ne Zha 2 usurped the title.

Perhaps one of the reasons that Ne Zha 2 hasn’t sparked much Oscar talk is because it lacks a prominent U.S. distributor. After all, Spirited Away did have Disney’s backing when it came to America. Even Flow got a significant boost when it started streaming on HBO Max. Admittedly, I have Ne Zha 2 as a dark horse in my current Oscar predictions. Ne Zha 2’s odds just increased, though, with the announcement that A24 is teaming with CMC Pictures for an English-language dub.

An English dub for Ne Zha 2 was teased at the Beijing International Film Festival in April, although it wasn’t clear who’d oversee it until now. Along with Neon, A24 is among the few remaining U.S. distributors synonymous with quality filmmaking. A blockbuster like Ne Zha 2 may seem like an unusual fit for a company that specializes in indie works. That said, A24’s upcoming Marty Supreme has a $70 million price tag, which is only $10 million less than Ne Zha 2’s $80 million (¥600 million) budget. While A24 doesn’t have a ton of animated projects to its name, the brand is building a diverse library with shows like Hazbin Hotel and the Oscar-nominated Marcel the Shell with Shoes On.

Speaking of Oscars, Michelle Yeoh will be lending her voice to Ne Zha 2’s English version. Yeoh previously won the Best Actress Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once, another A24 release. Everything Everywhere went on to win Best Picture, the second A24 film to do so after Moonlight. Being presented in IMAX and 3D, the English dub for Ne Zha 2 will arrive in U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand theaters on August 22. This will be just at the beginning of awards season, bringing Ne Zha 2 back into the conversation at an ideal time. This new release will also increase its U.S. box office, which won’t hurt its Oscar chances.

Sure, box office doesn’t always equal awards. When it comes to tentpole releases, voters can have a “that’s what the money’s for” mentality. Although the Animation Branch likes to spotlight hidden gems, they usually nominate at least one box office smash. Elio sadly isn’t meeting that criteria. Zootopia 2 will likely turn Disney’s fortunes around, although time will only tell if reviews live up to its Oscar-winning predecessor. If Zootopia 2 falls short, Ne Zha 2 could be the theatrical juggernaut that voters gravitate toward. Ne Zha 2 checks another box as an international film that’s still finding an American audience. In that sense, it’s both a David and a Goliath.

Best Animated Feature isn’t the only category where Ne Zha 2 should be seriously considered. China selected its predecessor as their submission for Best International Feature Film. While it wasn’t nominated, Ne Zha 2 may fare better if China chooses it as their submission for 2025. Flow got nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature Film. So did Flee, which also broke into the Best Documentary Feature race. A24 helped bring The Zone of Interest the Best International Feature Oscar in 2024. With A24 in its corner, Ne Zha 2 might pack a powerful punch come Oscar time.

Nick Spake is the Author of Bright & Shiny: A History of Animation at Award Shows Volumes 1 and 2. Available Now!