#藕饼 #Oubing In interviews Jiaozi have clearly stated that the biggest influence on him for Nezha story has been Shangmei's 1979 cartoon. I think he very cleverly made that version of Nezha's story the "default" trajectory of the story and used deviations from it to show how fate has been changed. This means until the characters in Nezha 2019 actually do something dramatically different from their counterpart in 1979, the story would tend to progress in the same direction as 1979. Consider the event that actually broke Nezha in 1979 that lead to his suicide - Li Jing being threatened by Ao Guang and co with the flooding of Chengtang Pass. As Nezha's father and governor of Chengtang Pass he had to choose between his son and his people and he choose the people. Although he didn't have the heart to actually kill Nezha himself the event caused Nezha to fall into despair. Feeling abandoned by his parents and alone against four loong kings in the sky Nezha then took his own life. Nezha in 2019 was made aware of the lie Li Jing told about him being the Spirit Pearl. He immediately assumed the worst that Li Jing once again choose the people over him and was intent on locking him up inside either the barrier or the painting until he reached the day he would die. This similarly broke him as in 1979 and he took off the Qiankun hoop and went on an attempted killing spree with Li Jing at the top of the list.
Had Nezha actually killed Li Jing and then afterwards found out Li Jing intended to use the fate swapping charm to save him from the heavenly lightning I don't think Nezha would be able to live with himself. Here the first change of fate happened. Thanks to their earlier friendship Ao Bing decided to intervene, successfully begged his master to get the Qiankun hoop back and subdued Nezha. This then allowed the flying pig to reveal Li Jing's plan to Nezha. Were as previously Nezha is fated to always hate his father, that fate has now been altered so that Nezha's relation with his father is restored.
Consider the case with Ao Bing. In 1979 both Ao Guang and Ao Bing carry the original sin of being human eating yaoguai. That's not the case in 2019 and thanks to Ao Guang's machination this time around Ao Bing is the spirit pearl. However consider this: the film spends considerable time demonstrating that through the effects of his parents and Nezha himself they proved that being the Demon Pill doesn't mean Nezha is necessarily an evil force, the reverse must also be true - just because Ao Bing is spirit pearl doesn't mean he is necessarily a force for good. Pretty soon Ao Bing is drawn back towards his fate as ordained in 1979. He is compelled to commit great evil and attempt to kill everyone in Chengtang Pass for the sake of his race and indeed he chooses to go down that path. If he was successful than it would put him permanently into conflict with Nezha and he'll likely follow his fate in 1979 and die by Nezha's hands. Fortunately his earlier action made Nezha available to show up and change fate a second time. This time Nezha not only successfully foils Ao Bing's plan, but teaches him to not bow to fate and fight it if it feels unfair. A lesson that Ao Bing takes to heart and quickly applies.
Although he thought Ao Bing to fight fate, Nezha himself sees no way out of being killed by the fated heavenly lightning now that he wasn't about to let Li Jing take his place. With all of heaven's might arrayed against him he ties up his parents to prevent them from intervening and gives up to face his death. The final change of fate happens when Ao Bing takes Nezha's lesson to heart and joins hand with him to absorb the heavenly lightening. Although the two of them still die in the flesh as in 1979 with Taiyi's help they spirit endured to allow resurrection in Nezha 2.
Artist Link: https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5137... That's why when I saw this art I was greatly moved because this right here is exactly what happened. Despite the differences Nezha 2019 was actually very close to going the same way as Nezha in 1979. The happier ending 40 years later was precisely because the two of them saved each other from their fate.
It's also why they've become inseparable in Nezha 2 - who can blame them after going through that for each other.
This is also why Shangmei Oubing is best used to hold up as a negative example for Oubing. As had their not mutually changed their fate their ending would come infinitely close to approaching Shangmei Oubing. Ironically in death and rebirth Shangmei Oubing would end up latching onto each other just like their 2019 counterpart, just in a twisted way instead of the latter's healthy relationship.
