Nezha Conquers the Dragon King

This 1979 Chinese animation is among the most ambitious works of the Shanghai Animation Film Studio and is cited as the country's first large-scale, colour, widescreen animated feature. The story comes from the classic novel Investiture of the Gods. Nezha, the miraculously born son of General Li Jing, comes up against the Dragon King of the East Sea; when the matter is taken to the celestial court and his family is threatened, Nezha makes his own decision and sets about destroying the palace. The most remembered passage is the scene in which he sacrifices himself to protect his family, a moment unusually hard for a young audience. The design draws on traditional Chinese painting, opera costume and folk art. It was made for the thirtieth anniversary of the People's Republic and screened out of competition at Cannes. Who it's for: viewers curious about classic animation and Chinese mythology. Who it's not for: anyone planning to watch with small children; the film handles death and sacrifice directly.