Record year propels China's animated film industry onto global stage

China's box office experienced a banner year of skyrocketing ticket sales for animated films in 2025, bookended by two powerhouse sequels: homegrown phenomenon Ne Zha 2 ignited the market early in the year, while Disney's Zootopia 2 powered a year-end surge, underscoring the genre's potent and enduring appeal in the world's second-largest market.

Animated films generated over 25 billion yuan ($3.57 billion) at the box office — a record for China's animation sector — accounting for roughly half of the country's total ticket sales this year. Overall, animated films claimed four of the top 10 spots, with Ne Zha 2, Zootopia 2 and Nobody placing first, second and sixth, respectively.

In a recent discussion about Zootopia 2's performance in cinemas, Yin Hong, vice-chairman of the China Film Association and a professor at Tsinghua University, says that imaginative, high-quality animation is a clear favorite among young people, whose social media dominance means that winning them over wins the market.

Domestic releases Ne Zha 2 and Nobody earned 15.4 billion yuan and 1.72 billion yuan, respectively. As of Dec 23, on its 28th day of release, Zootopia 2 raked in nearly 3.83 billion yuan in revenue, leading China's year-end box-office chart.

Igniting a cultural phenomenon, Ne Zha 2 became the world's highest-grossing animated feature ever, ranking among the top five global earners of all time, and underscoring the Chinese film industry's growing clout.

The film showcased China's technical prowess in the animation industry. With more than 1,900 visual effect shots, it represents the collaborative efforts of nearly 140 animation studios and over 4,000 animators.

Huang Danhong, a professor at Sichuan University of Media and Communications, notes the film's advanced character modeling, scene rendering, and fluid simulations, as well as particle effects such as lightning, fire, seawater, and lava. "These technological breakthroughs enhance visual realism and emotional depth, elevating storytelling to new heights," Huang says.

With its record-shattering box-office performance, the film has also sparked global interest in Chinese animation and, more broadly, Chinese culture.

On social media, Chinese netizens have explained the film's cultural references to international audiences, from Sanxingdui-inspired barrier beasts to Taiyi Zhenren's (a deity) wine jar, modeled on 5,000-year-old painted pottery from the Majiayao site in Gansu province.

Chinese scholars and media observers have highlighted the film's cultural depth, noting that it blends rebellion and nonconformity with the protagonists' journey from defying fate to assuming responsibility for the greater good.

This storyline embodies the Chinese values of commitment, responsibility, and sacrifice, prompting inner reflection among international viewers. "The struggle in the face of adversity really struck me," an American viewer wrote on social media.

Lyu Zhenzhen, a liberal arts scholar at Guangzhou University in Guangdong province, says themes drawn from traditional culture and its distinctive aesthetics underpin the identity of Chinese animation, but lasting global resonance results from contemporary values rooted in China's cultural heritage, which also speak to universal human emotions.

The global impact of Chinese animation is also visible in cultural experiences abroad. In August, a Chinese animation-themed cafe opened in New York, drawing fans of the Chinese animated series Heaven Official's Blessing, based on a popular web novel.

Among the fans, Jen Dunn, 35, visited the cafe in a self-made hanfu (traditional costume) outfit. Her growing interest in Chinese culture originates from her enthusiasm for the country's animated works. "A lot of the movies are really good, like the Ne Zha series," she says.

China highlights the role of culture and heritage in development, emphasizing the need to foster cultural creativity. Efforts are being encouraged to nurture original works, produce outstanding films, and boost the global influence of Chinese civilization through high-quality cultural offerings.

Buoyed by the success of Ne Zha 2 and other domestic works, industry observers are optimistic about the future of China's animation sector. According to them, the world's second-largest film market provides both domestic momentum and international opportunities.

China's clout in the global film industry rests not just on its vast population, but also on the upgrading of consumer demand, the growth of more refined cultural tastes, and a strong ability to attract and deploy top-tier global resources, according to an article from Economic Daily.

Zootopia 2 further illustrates China's market influence, with the Hollywood blockbuster generating roughly half of its global earnings from the Chinese mainland after its simultaneous North American release.

Film market researcher Chen Dan says that the film's performance has boosted confidence across the industry, both at home and abroad. "The audience is still there,"Chen says. "When strong content comes along, moviegoers are still willing to return to theaters and pay for tickets."

As China seeks to expand its animation sector, industry insiders note that Hollywood remains a source of valuable lessons. Wang Kaiying, a franchise developer, says that building franchises rooted in traditional Chinese culture is vital for domestic animation. Drawing on Disney's integrated model — linking films, animation, publishing, theme parks, and merchandise — Wang stresses that successful franchises depend on long-term strategic planning.

Similarly, Wang Lei, a professor at the Communication University of China, notes that US animation spans blockbuster studio productions and independently funded films, often tied to games, theme parks and toys. This model, he says, underscores the vast growth potential for China's animation industry.