Will China’s animation, led by the record-breaking film Ne Zha, soon beat the US and Japan in the global market?

Nov 6 , 2019

The Chinese film Ne Zha earned US$700 million and broke domestic box office records in China, and other animation studios are hoping to do the same internationally.

Ne Zha broke domestic box office records and earned US$700 million, but can Chinese animation studios beat current leaders US and Japan in the global market?

Chinese animation has grown up. Now it wants to grow out.

After Ne Zha broke domestic box office records this summer, a cohort of Chinese animation studios set their sights on the global market. The studios say they think they can create the kind of world-class productions that could turn around China’s underperforming industry.

“As an industry we’ve become more confident telling stories to the domestic market. Now we’re going to tell stories to the world,” says Chris Bremble, the founder and CEO of Base FX.

Base FX is putting the finishing touches to Wish Dragon at its studio in Xiamen. Due for release next summer, it’s a modern-day fairy tale about the moral challenges that emerge when a boy meets a dragon that can make his wishes come true.

“It’s fun. It’s full of heart. It has a global theme. At the same time it allows people to see a vision of China that very few outsiders understand,” says Bremble.

Books of Monsters in the forbidden city is a movie by Nanjing-based Original Force about a girl’s encounter with magical guardians in the palace of the Ming and Qing emperors. Photo: Original Force

Nanjing-based Original Force, meanwhile, is readying Monsters in the Forbidden City, about a girl’s encounter with magical guardians in the palace of the Ming and Qing emperors.

“We have strong historical and cultural elements. We have an iconic theme that everyone can understand. I think it can go abroad easily,” says Harley Zhao, the studio’s CEO and president.

Enlight, Light Chaser Animation in Beijing, and Fantawild in Shenzhen are other globally-aspiring animation studios with productions in the pipeline.

Ultimately, experts say the sheer size of China’s market will give it the advantage needed to play against the US and Japan; the two world leaders in animation today. As with high-speed rail and mobile telecoms before, revenues from domestic sales should be robust enough to nurture world-beating expertise.