Since 2015, the Chinese animated film industry has seen unprecedented growth, expanding its influence into the global market. The country saw its annual box-office revenue surge by 48.7 percent year-on-year in 2015, propelled by dozens of blockbusters. That year is also remembered as the start of the rise of Chinese animation, led by the dark horse hit Monkey King: Hero is Back. China Daily revisits some of the most acclaimed animated films in the last decade.

Monkey King: Hero is Back (2015)

Based on the 16th-century novel Journey to the West, Tian Xiaopeng's directorial debut recounts a young boy's accidental rescue of the Monkey King, imprisoned under a mountain for 500 years as punishment for his rebellion against the heavens. The film earned 956 million yuan ($130.8 million), becoming the highest-grossing animated film of 2015.

Big Fish & Begonia (2016)

Set in a mystical world parallel to the human realm, the film follows a 16-year-old girl from the mystical world who transforms into a dolphin and ventures into human society where she encounters a human boy. The movie won widespread attention mainly due to its visual beauty and lengthy production process, which took 12 years to complete.

White Snake (2019)

Loosely inspired by a famous Chinese folk story, the film recounts the love story between a white snake spirit who shape-shifts into a beautiful woman and a handsome young man. The movie garnered word-of-mouth praise online, signaling a new trend for Chinese animation targeting adults instead of solely focusing on children and families as its main audience.

Ne Zha (2019)

The directorial debut feature by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the first Ne Zha film quickly took social media by storm and earned 5 billion yuan, becoming China's highest-grossing animated film. This record has now been broken by its sequel Ne Zha 2. The film is a subverted retelling of the conventional tale of the titular character, a mythological figure familiar to generations, whose catchphrase, "My fate is decided by myself, not by heaven" resonates deeply with fans.

Chang'an (2023)

The film chronicles the lifelong friendship between Li Bai and Gao Shi, renowned poets from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Their stories are interwoven with those of other famous poets from the era, such as Du Fu, and part of the backdrop set amid the chaotic An-Shi Rebellion (755-763) that threatened Tang rulers. Featuring 48 poems in various forms — including some recited by characters and others visualized as vivid perceptions of their imagination — the film became a massive hit, drawing some parents who brought their children in hopes of sparking an interest in Chinese culture and literature.

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