I am what I am 2 aka Xiong shi shao nian 2 (2024) Review: Fists, Family and Shanghai Dreams

This I Am What I Am 2 review starts with a simple question: can an animated sequel swap lion dancing for city brawls and still feel like the same story? Mostly, yes. Sun Haipeng's follow-up is an animated comedy with a lot of heart and plenty of martial arts action, and it earns its long runtime more often than not.

I Am What I Am 2 Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The I Am What I Am 2 plot follows A Juan, a young man from a small town who travels to Shanghai with one goal: earn enough money to pay for his seriously ill father's treatment. Work is hard to find, so he agrees to fight in the Shanghai Fight Night martial arts tournament. He represents the Chuanwu Kung Fu Gym, a struggling school that badly needs a win.

The film is a sequel to the 2021 original, but it changes the setting. Where the first movie leaned on rural lion dancing, this one moves into the city's martial arts scene. Newcomers should be able to follow the story, though fans of the first film will pick up extra echoes.

What Works in I Am What I Am 2

The fights are the main draw. Audience reviews on Letterboxd describe the action as fluid and gritty, and IMDb users single out the fight scenes for praise. For an animated film, the choreography has real weight, and the matches feel like contests rather than flashy set pieces.

The story is also clear. The stakes are personal, since the money is for a sick father, so the tournament never feels like a hollow excuse for punching. Viewers on IMDb highlight the clean plot lines and the character development, and that matches what the film sets out to do.

A few other strengths stand out:

• A grounded emotional hook that gives each bout a purpose.

• Humor that lightens the mood without undercutting the drama.

• A strong sense of place as the film moves from a small town to a big city.

The song "Nobody (Wu ming de ren)", performed by Angela Shao-Han Chang, is listed as part of the soundtrack, and its themes of anonymity suit a hero who arrives in Shanghai as an unknown worker.

I Am What I Am 2 Cast and Performances

The I Am What I Am 2 cast is all voice work. According to IMDb, Xin Li voices A Juan, Xinran Cai plays Wang Zhaoyu, Baoquan Wang voices Fat Loong, and Yilang Wang voices Zhang Wate. Hao Guo and Yexiong Chen are also credited, though I could not verify their sequel roles.

The hero's story works because the character reads as an ordinary person under pressure, not a ready-made champion. The supporting figures around the gym add color and humor, and the ensemble gives the film a lived-in feel. Without Mandarin dubbing details to compare, the safest verdict is that the voices fit the tone the film is aiming for.

Where I Am What I Am 2 Stumbles

The runtime is the clearest hurdle. Sources list it at 133 or 134 minutes, which is long for an animated comedy. A sports-style tournament story also follows familiar beats, so viewers who know the genre may see the shape of the plot early.

The commercial picture was weaker than the critical one. Wikipedia reports a worldwide gross of about US$11.32 million, less than half the production budget, which made it a box-office disappointment. That says little about quality, but it may explain why the film is less widely discussed than its reviews suggest it should be.

Is I Am What I Am 2 Worth Watching?

Yes, especially if you like martial arts stories with real emotion behind them. Audiences have been warm: IMDb shows 7.6 out of 10, Letterboxd sits around 4.02 out of 5, and Douban's early score was 8.3. Wikipedia describes the critical response as positive.

The film's strengths are the ones that matter most for this kind of story: clear stakes, committed fight scenes and a protagonist you want to root for. Its flaws are length and familiarity, not weak craft. If you want a fresh animated action film from China, it is a solid pick.

The film was released in China on 14 December 2024. For more in the same vein, browse our animation movie reviews or our comedy movie reviews. If you want another animated adventure, our Cells at Work! review is a good next stop.

You can find full credits and user ratings on IMDb.

Who Will Enjoy I Am What I Am 2

• Fans of the original 2021 film who want to see the story move to the city.

• Viewers who like martial arts action with emotional stakes.

• Animation fans looking for something beyond Hollywood and Japanese studios.