Blockbusters and Records: Chinese Animation Grows Up

Not long ago, “Chinese animation” mostly meant low-budget TV series for children. That era is over. The fantasy epic Ne Zha 2 became one of the highest-grossing animated films in history, and it did so almost entirely with tickets sold inside China — a sign of how much the domestic audience has embraced homegrown animation.

The stories draw deeply from tradition: the rebellious deity Ne Zha comes from classical mythology, as do the dozens of gods and demons sharing the screen with him. What has changed is the craft. Studios such as Coco Cartoon and Light Chaser Animation now deploy Hollywood-scale pipelines — particle effects, water simulation, character rigs refined over years — to retell centuries-old legends.

The industry has grown accordingly. Animated features now regularly open among the top films of the year in China, budgets have multiplied, and a generation of animators trained on domestic productions is coming into its own. Streaming platforms, meanwhile, have started exporting Chinese animated series to Southeast Asia and beyond.

The next question is the world stage. Dubbed and subtitled releases of Chinese animated hits are appearing in more countries, and distributors are watching closely. For now, one thing is clear: the stereotype of Chinese animation as a cheap copycat has been retired — by the box office.