The 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week highlighted a new wave of high-grossing Chinese animated films characterized by artistic innovation, rich storytelling and high-quality production that are capturing global attention.
The five-day event, which concluded on Saturday at the Yongchuan Technology Studio in Chongqing”s Yongchuan district, was described by local authorities as China’s first specialized and authoritative international festival solely dedicated to animation.
Acclaimed directors and film experts have shared their insights, highlighting the industry’s growing appreciation for “Eastern aesthetic”.
Sheila M. Sofian, a member of the animation branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and its animation executive committee from the United States, served as a jury member for the event.
“I think Chinese artists have a very rich culture to draw from. There are many very unique techniques such as brush painting, ceramics and woodcutting,” she said.
“But what’s really interesting is how they apply this to media, and they’re not afraid to take traditional techniques and apply them in a way that’s very creative and unique in a way that is unfamiliar to Western audiences,” she added.
Rob Minkoff, an American film director best known for Disney’s The Lion King and chairman of the film week’s jury, said, “I don’t think that all films have to apply to the same standards or ideals.”
He emphasized the importance of embracing diverse storytelling values across diverse cultural frameworks. “Coming to a festival like this, we are celebrating works from all over the world,” he said.
A total of 501 animated works from around the world competed for the Golden Camellia Awards. Forty-five works were shortlisted, and the winners were announced at the closing ceremony.
Yin Hong, vice-president of the China Film Association and a jury member for the film week, said this year’s shortlisted works drew heavily on Chinese classical literature and traditional art forms such as ink painting and meticulous brushwork, combining them with modern animation to enhance Eastern aesthetics.
He also said the domestic animation industry needs to continue expanding niche markets. With the emergence of adult-oriented and experimental animation, the industry must further explore different audience segments and create more differentiated works.
The opening ceremony featured a presentation themed “Oriental Scroll”, showcasing a series of domestic animated productions, including A Story About Fire, Into the Mortal World, Yao-Chinese Folktales and Nobody.
Industry data indicates a significant trend in China’s animated film sector.
From 2011 to 2018, animated films accounted for about 10 percent of annual box office revenue, rising to around 14 percent between 2019 and 2024.
“Recently, China has obviously enjoyed the success of several films I’ve gotten to see — both Nezha 2 and Nobody. I can see why they’re immensely popular,” said Janet Yang, an award-winning Hollywood producer.
In 2025, domestic animated films achieved a breakthrough, with four animated titles ranking among the year’s top 10 box office earners, three of them domestically produced. Total box office revenue for animated films exceeded 25 billion yuan ($3.7 billion), accounting for nearly half of the market.
Yongchuan, which has developed a state-of-the-art film and television industrial base, the largest in western China, is at the forefront.
In recent years, Yongchuan has emerged as a major hub for film technology in China, attracting more than 170 upstream and downstream enterprises, including Dawa (Chongqing) Imaging Technology and iQIYI.
The district has produced more than 140 films and television works, including the popular Resurrection and Panda Plan. Last year, it hosted the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival.
“Yongchuan is striving to build the ‘Western China Technological Film and Television City’ by further integrating technological innovation and industrial innovation,” said Xu Hongqiu, head of Yongchuan district.
During the film week, an investment and project signing event resulted in agreements for 53 projects worth 2.8 billion yuan. The projects span the entire industry chain, including artificial intelligence-generated content production, film technology research and development, talent cultivation and content creation.
Contact the writers at dengrui@chinadaily.com.cn