Year-ender: Top 10 cultural events from 2025

8. Chinese animated films break box-office record

China's animation sector achieved record-breaking success in 2025, generating over 25 billion yuan ($3.57 billion) at the box office — nearly half of the country's total ticket sales.

Ne Zha 2 became the world's highest-grossing animated film, ranking among the top five global box-office earners of all time. Its success underscored China's growing technical capabilities and international influence in animation. Meanwhile, Nobody set a record as the highest-grossing domestic 2D animated film.

Ne Zha 2 showcased China's growing technical prowess in animation. Featuring more than 1,900 visual effects shots, the film was produced through the collaboration of nearly 140 animation studios and over 4,000 animators. Its record-breaking box-office performance has also sparked global interest in Chinese animation and, more broadly, Chinese culture.

Meanwhile, Nobody reimagined the classic tale Journey to the West with references to real-world locations, resonating with audiences and inspiring some viewers to embark on their own journeys.