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.