Asia's animation industry is experiencing significant growth

The animation industry in Asia is growing rapidly and is expected to continue boosting the entertainment sector in the coming years. A major highlight is the success of “Ne Zha 2” in mainland China, which has made over $2 billion and set records as the highest-grossing animated film in history. Catherine Ying, president of Pearl Studios, spoke about the future of Chinese animation at the Hong Kong FilMart. She believes that more successful animated films will come from ancient Chinese stories. Pearl Studios plans to release "Eight Immortals" in 2026, based on a famous Chinese myth. Ying emphasized the importance of combining traditional stories with modern production values. Ying mentioned that Chinese animators are improving in storytelling and technical effects, making their work competitive with Hollywood. She believes animation can transcend political issues, making it easier to connect with international audiences. Japan remains the leader in animation, generating about $11.5 billion from overseas sales in 2023. Francesco Prandoni from Production I.G noted that Japanese animation has a distinct style that appeals to young audiences. Japan has maintained its traditional animation techniques rather than fully switching to computer-generated imagery. In Indonesia, a new animated film called "Jumbo" is set to premiere soon. It took five years to make and aims to represent Indonesian and Asian values. Mia Angelia Santosa from Visinema Group highlighted the growing demand for animation in Southeast Asia, driven largely by streaming services. While the region is catching up, it still lags behind Japan and China in animation quality.