Chinese animation blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” was released at the end of January in addition to various other films for the local holiday period for the Spring Festival.
VCG | Visual China Group | Getty images
BEIJING – For someone who lives in China before the pandemic, the success of the animation film “Ne Zha 2” marks more of an industrial milestone than a surprise.
The steady drumbeat of home-grown animation was picked up in 2023, just after the end of COVID-19 restrictions, with popular releases such as “Chang an”-a repetition of the life of the Chinese poet Li Bai from the perspective of his friend. It made $ 250 million As the only animation film in the top 10 films of China for the year, according to Box Office data from Maoyan.
The team behind “Chang an”, light huntering, largely works from an old white building in the sleepy edge of Beijing. The ceilings are high; Stairs swing through the building to connect several floors and rooms – and a gym.
When I visited this week, some animators – working on their computers in the dark – race to finish cinematic lighting effects on scenes for this summer’s film. Others designed historical Chinese robes, detailed eyebrows and re -created buildings.
“This place is no longer big enough,” said Yu Zhou, president of the studio, in Mandarin, translated by CNBC.
He said that in the following year the company of 380 people still have to hire at least 100 people to keep track of its new production plan: two films releases per year from 2026, from one year a year. Ai, he said, can only be a tool for now. Light Chaser is planning to move to a new office in the second half of this year.
On Beijing based Light Chaser Animation, more than 380 employees had from February 2025.
The studio holds on to a three -year production plan for all films that it makes at the same time. It tries to imagine the future, and whether 20 million to 30 million people will watch it when the film comes out, Yu said. “Will this story work in three years?”
This film is planned for this summer, “curious stories about a temple,” says “Chinese ghost stories,” said Yu. The studio is in conversation with “Hollywood Mainstream Players” for the release of the film in theaters abroad, including in North America, at the same time as China’s planned launch, he said.
From the ‘Green Snake’ of Light Chaser of the studio among the worldwide audience, Yu- claimed what is a interpretation of a Chinese legend, partly in a futuristic city- did well on Netflix after the 2021 launch, in the top 10 of non -English content for three weeks.
Among the other animated functions in the making, video streaming company Iqiyi Develops “Master Zhong”, which is expected to be released in China this year. Ya Ning, a senior vice -president at the company, said that the Chinese animation had started his “childish” image and turned into an industry, which also expanded in film merchandise and games.
A recent history
Chinese animation films have only started splashing in the last 10 years.
“In the history of Chinese animation has Never been a movie like “Big Fish and Begonia. “… As far as the Chinese industry goes, this daring and breathtaking fantasy adventure stands alone,” wrote the magazine Variety in Entertainment Industry after the release of the film 2016.
The film was made by Beijing Enlight Media. That is the same producer behind this year’s “Ne Zha 2” and “Ne Zha 1” that came out in 2019 – it had that year at the Chinese cash register at the top of the China cash register.
“Deep Sea”, Van Beijing Studio Octmedia, won support in early 2023 with his fantastic pastel -colored representation of a young girl’s journey after leaving her mother.
Although popularity has not always become in the sale of cash register, “Ne ZHA 2” could partially succeed because it encouraged all ages, Liu Angering, manager in a cinema in Chengdu, said CNBC. Although Liu said he was proud of the performance of the Chinese animation industry, he did not expect another “Ne Zha 2”- Blockbuster in the near future – at least not until “Ne Zha 3” will be released in 2028.
“Ne Zha 2” was released in China at the end of January as one of the six films for the holiday of a week spring festival and took half of the cash register for the period, according to Maoyan. After the release in North America on February 14, Maoyan data showed that the film Beat Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” as the best-waging animation film worldwide with more than 13 billion Yuan ($ 1.79 billion) in ticket sales.
Strategy and plans
In contrast to the focus of Light Chaser on internal production, the makers of “Ne Zha 2” relied on various studios. The director came from Coco Cartoon, based in Chengdu, while Beijing Enlight Media was the primary producer and distributor. Chinese state media said nearly 140 companies contributed to production.
Staatsmedia also emphasized how Government subsidies From Chengdu to Qingdao have helped in supporting domestic animation. Beijing in 2021 explained a national plan for “Building China in a big film player“By 2035 including a call for producing 50 films per year with cash register sales of at least 100 million Yuan each.
Jonathan Clements, author of “Anime: A History”, warned that overproduction of films could shock unpleasant studios and investors. “Animation consumers are a source that must be carefully managed,” he said.
Clements added that, contrary to how Disney Blockbusters earned more than $ 1 billion in cash register sales in several countries, “Ne ZHA 2” did this mainly because of the sale in China. “You don’t have to worry about whether your story, or your characters, or your attitude will play in other countries.”
China’s plan has also specified that domestic films must explain At least 55% of the annual cash register in the country Sale.
Hollywood films, when allowed in China, have seen the interest of the domestic audience. “Godzilla x Kong” was the only one who wriggled the top 10 last year, according to Maoyan. “Oppenheimer” did not succeed in entering the 20 best-winning films of China in 2023, and “Barbie” was further behind.
In 2019, “Avengers: Endgame” was arranged third by the Interior Cash register, according to Maoyan, just behind the Chinese SCI -Fi sensation “The Wandering Earth” and the first “Ne Zha” film.
The characters and suddenly of many Chinese animated television series come from stories written online by relatively unknown authors. Chinese literaturesaid the operator of a large app for content generated by users, said 15 of the top 20 most viewed online animation series In the first half of last year, content was based on its platform – in recent years it has also started with the posting of the adjustments on YouTube because it strives to broaden its audience.
Chinese makers also use generative AI for making films. Short video streaming app Kuaishou Brings out a seven-part mini series, “New World Loading”, which was largely made with the help of the Kling AI of the company for video generation. Director Chen Xianangyu said that the team has simply fed the AI model simple scripts, instead of having to draw characters.