MOSCOW, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Russian premiere of "Ne Zha 2" -- China's highest-grossing animated film -- was greeted with applause Sunday at Cinema Park theater in Moscow.

"I laughed and cried at times," Russian teenager Kseniia said after watching the movie. "This film resonated strongly with me."

Dubbed in Russian and presented in IMAX, the blockbuster drew over 500 local moviegoers during its premiere. The film will officially expand to more than 1,600 screens across Russia on Thursday -- just in time for International Children's Day.

College student Liera told Xinhua she rushed to the premiere with her younger sister the moment she learned about the sequel's release. "I first watched 'Ne Zha' when I was 13 -- it moved me deeply," she said, adding that the character of Shen Gongbao resonated "to the depths of her soul."

"Shen Gongbao's relationship with his younger brother and his development evoke special emotions in me," she said, "I am ready to do a lot for my sister. So this topic touched me deeply."

"Ne Zha 2" continues the epic journey of Chinese mythology's rebellious young deity, as Nezha and his ally Ao Bing battle to reclaim their physical forms and rewrite their destinies under the guidance of their immortal mentor, Taiyi Zhenren.

"I like this film, and to be honest, I am very delighted," said Nikita Stepanov, member of the central committee of the Russia-China Friendship Association, who was born in China and lived in Beijing for years. "Everything is very familiar to me. It made me recall my moments in China."

The film's Russian dubbing played a pivotal role in its successful premiere. Maksim Kofov, the adaptation and dubbing director for "Ne Zha 2", told Xinhua that translating culturally specific idioms posed a significant challenge.

For instance, Ne Zha's poems wouldn't work if translated literally, he explained. "But when we adapt them to something culturally familiar, they truly resonate with audiences."

Dubbing actress Eva Finkelstein, who brought Ne Zha to life in Russian, was captivated by the character's complex duality. "Appearances can be deceiving," she observed. "Ne Zha strikes me as a wise adult spirit trapped in a child's body -- his fierce exterior conceals a profoundly kind heart."

"This Chinese animated film is a phenomenon," said Vera Fetishcheva, deputy general director of the Russian distribution film company Arna Media. "It is currently among the top five highest-grossing films."

Official figures show that "Ne Zha 2" has already grossed over 2 billion U.S. dollars globally, including presales and international revenues.

"We hope that it will also take a good box office result in Russia," said Fetishcheva.