In the 2020 animated film "Jiang Ziya: Legend of Deification," the titular character is a former commander of the celestial army who was tasked with executing the Nine-Tailed Fox demon to bring peace to the world. However, he hesitates when he sees an innocent girl's soul trapped inside the demon. Consequently, he is banished to the mortal realm (Beihai) to reflect on his "error," setting the stage for his journey of redemption and discovery of the truth.

Yes, "Jiang Ziya" is the second installment in the "Fengshen Cinematic Universe" (mythological universe), following the massive success of "Ne Zha" (2019). While the two films have different directors and distinct visual styles—Ne Zha being more comedic and rebellious, Jiang Ziya being more somber and epic—they exist within the same shared mythological framework derived from the classic novel "Investiture of the Gods" (Fengshen Yanyi).

The central conflict is moral and philosophical. Jiang Ziya is torn between the absolute orders of the Heaven Realm (specifically his master) and his own conscience. He believes that sacrificing one innocent life (the girl Xiao Jiu) to save the world is unjust. His journey is about challenging the rigid, pre-determined destiny imposed by the gods and finding his own path of true justice ("To save one person is to save the world").

Xiao Jiu is a young girl with fox ears who has lost her memory. Jiang Ziya discovers that her fate is inextricably linked to the Nine-Tailed Fox demon via a "Lock of Destiny." She is essentially the innocent victim caught in the war between gods and demons. Jiang Ziya's quest to help her find her father and uncover her identity leads to the revelation of a dark conspiracy involving the celestial hierarchy.

The Nine-Tailed Fox is the primary antagonist on the surface, a powerful demon responsible for the war that ravaged the world. However, as the story unfolds, it is revealed that the Fox was used as a pawn by the Heaven Realm to instigate the war, promising her ascension to godhood in return. Her character adds layers of tragedy and betrayal to the narrative, blurring the lines between good and evil.

The film is praised for its breathtaking visual artistry, blending 3D CGI with traditional Chinese ink painting aesthetics and brushwork textures. The environments, particularly the celestial realm and the mysterious Mount Youdu, are designed with grand scale and intricate detail. The character designs are more realistic and mature compared to "Ne Zha," reflecting the film's serious tone.

"Jiang Ziya" is loosely based on "Investiture of the Gods," a classic 16th-century Chinese novel. The novel tells the story of the fall of the Shang dynasty and the rise of the Zhou dynasty, intermingling history with mythology, gods, demons, and magic. Jiang Ziya is a major protagonist in the original novel, serving as the strategist who helps overthrow the tyrant King Zhou.

The Stairway to Heaven is a mystical construct that connects the mortal realm to the celestial realm. It symbolizes the hierarchy and the path to divinity. In the film's climax, Jiang Ziya destroys this stairway, a symbolic act of breaking the absolute control the gods have over humanity and rejecting a system built on deception and the sacrifice of the innocent.

Jiang Ziya is accompanied by a creature named "Si Bu Xiang" (Four-Alike). In the movie, it is a loyal, small, cute, mythical beast that can transform into a majestic, powerful creature to protect its master. It provides moments of warmth and comic relief in an otherwise heavy story and plays a crucial, self-sacrificial role in protecting Jiang Ziya and Xiao Jiu.

The film challenges the traditional notion of obeying "destiny" dictated by higher powers. Jiang Ziya evolves from a blind follower of the gods to a breaker of chains. The core message is that true divinity comes from compassion and the courage to do what is right, even if it means defying the highest authorities. It emphasizes individual agency and the value of every single life over a utilitarian "greater good."