Ne Zha is the scowling, fire-powered child hero of the highest-grossing animated film ever made, and he's easy to recognize at a party: a black bowl cut with two buns, thick red-rimmed eyes, a gold ring around the neck and a long red ribbon that flies around him. There are ready-made adult sets for the cheap version, and the pieces below give you a closer one.
How to Make Ne Zha Costume
Full Costume SetBlack Bob Wig with Buns and BangsHair Buns HeadpieceRed Kung Fu VestFlame-Print Harem PantsGold Satin SashLong Red Satin RibbonGold Torque Neck RingSilver Foam SpearDark Red Eyeshadow PaletteRed Face GemsSaveTap any item in the photo to shop itClick any item in the photo to shop it
| # | Item | Description | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full Costume Set | A ready-made adult set with the red vest, dark flame-print pants, yellow sash, red ribbon, gold ring and spear. Start here for the easy version. A cheaper top, pants and ribbon set leaves out the ring and spear. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 2 | Black Bob Wig with Buns and Bangs | A short black bob with straight bangs and a bun on each side. Ne Zha's hair is a chin-length black bowl cut with a bun on each side. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 3 | Hair Buns Headpiece | Cheaper than a wig: a black headband with two buns tied with red ribbons. Wear it over your own hair. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 4 | Red Kung Fu Vest | A sleeveless red vest. Ne Zha's has a gold border and a white lotus on each side of the chest, so add a white lotus patch or two. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 5 | Flame-Print Harem Pants | Baggy black pants with red flames along the legs, like the ones in the film. These are sold as women's, so check the size chart. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 6 | Gold Satin Sash | Tie a yellow-gold sash at the waist with the ends hanging down. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 7 | Long Red Satin Ribbon | This is the Hun Tian Ling, Ne Zha's ribbon. Buy a 2-inch red satin roll, cut it about ten feet long, and drape it over your shoulders and arms. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 8 | Gold Torque Neck Ring | A rigid gold open collar for the golden Universe Ring around Ne Zha's neck. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 9 | Silver Foam Spear | A light foam spear, silver like the one in the trailers. Keep it in foam, and check event rules about props. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 10 | Dark Red Eyeshadow Palette | Ne Zha's eyes are outlined in a thick dark red-purple ring, like a raccoon, so use plenty of shadow. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
| 11 | Red Face Gems | A small red gem or sticker in the middle of the forehead stands in for the small red swirl mark on his forehead. | 🛒 Check on Amazon |
The film's Ne Zha is a small child, but the costume works on anyone: bare arms, bare feet, a scowl and red eyes are what matter. If you're wearing the top open, put a plain red tee under it.
Getting the details right
- The face is half the costume. Ne Zha's look is the thick dark ring around each eye, the angry eyebrows and a mouth full of teeth. Practice the scowl.
- Bare arms and feet. In the film he's barefoot with bare arms, so go barefoot or in flesh-toned socks if the party allows.
- Keep the ribbon moving. The red ribbon is what makes the pose. Hold one end and let the rest trail.
- Colors. The pants are dark, almost black-brown with red flames, not solid red. If you can only find red pants, add black fabric flames, or wear the black flame pants above.
Ne Zha costume ideas to go with it
- Ne Zha and Ao Bing: Ne Zha's friend Ao Bing is the calm, pale blue and white dragon prince. Sellers make a matching adult dragon prince set for him.
- A Chinese New Year party: Ne Zha 2 opened on the first day of Chinese New Year, and red and gold suits the holiday, too.
About Ne Zha
Ne Zha (2019) and its sequel Ne Zha 2 (2025) are Chinese animated fantasy films written and directed by Jiaozi, loosely based on the 16th-century novel Investiture of the Gods (Fengshen Yanyi) by Xu Zhonglin. Ne Zha is a boy who is the reincarnation of a demon orb, and is hated and feared by the townsfolk of Chentang Pass. He has to decide whether to accept the fate the world has given him.
Ne Zha 2 was released in China on January 29, 2025, the first day of Chinese New Year, and grossed about $2.2 billion worldwide against an $80 million budget. It's the highest-grossing animated film ever, the highest-grossing non-English-language film, and the highest-grossing film of 2025. An English dub reached U.S. theaters in August 2025.
