Hangzhou embraces 21st edition of China International Cartoon & Animation Festival
Hangzhou embraces 21st edition of
China International Cartoon & Animation Festival
By Zhu Jingning
Hangzhou has once again opened the door to a fairy-tale world as the annual China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF) launches its 21st extravaganza. Scheduled from May 29 to Jun 2, the event will host dazzling activities, cementing the city’s status as a global hub for animation and pop culture in China.
Two decades of excellence
In 2005, China’s animation industry was in its infancy. Industry insiders lamented that while the market was vast, 90% of it was dominated by foreign cartoons. That year marked a turning point for Hangzhou, which set its sights on becoming the “Capital of Animation”. From humble beginnings, the city’s animation sector has evolved into a cultural hallmark, deeply integrated with urban development.
Today, Hangzhou boasts a thriving ecosystem encompassing animation, gaming, and derivative products. The CICAF, now permanently hosted here, draws millions of visitors annually. The city is home to China’s first national animation museum, themed subway stations, and hotspots like Hubin 88 and City Center (Gonglian CC), where fans flock for collectibles. Creative hubs such as White Horse Lake Creative Eco-City, Zhijiang Cultural and Creative Park, and Artinno Town have further solidified its industrial cluster.
The city’s animation landscape now includes over 270 upstream and downstream enterprises, with more than 12,000 professionals. Leading local companies like Zoland Animation, Sparkly Key Animation Studio, and Electronic Soul stand alongside industry giants such as Light Chaser Animation Studios and XIRON Animation & Comics.
Hangzhou has rolled out six iterations of supportive policies for the sector, with special funding reaching 100 million yuan (approximately $14 million) in 2022. Notable beneficiaries include the blockbuster game Black Myth: Wukong and films like Chang An and White Snake: Afloat. Over the past 20 years, Hangzhou-produced hits like The Legend of Qin and Soul Land have gained global traction. The recent smash Ne Zha 2 also features local studios.
In 2024 alone, 292 Hangzhou-developed games secured publication licenses (20% of China’s total), while 227 network animations obtained distribution permits (over 30% nationally). The city leads in state-recommended animation projects, underscoring its creative dominance.
A global stage for animation
The main venue of CICAF at Hangzhou White Horse Lake International Convention & Exhibition Center will showcase top-tier domestic and international brands. Themed zones--from original works and esports to “Hangzhou elements” and children’s content--will highlight industry achievements. Platforms like iQiyi, Tencent, Bilibili, and Alibaba’s Youku will make their presence, alongside IP showcases such as Black Myth: Wukong.
Parallel events include the CICAF Cosplay Super Show finals, attracting enthusiasts nationwide, and the voice actor competition, aiming to nurture dubbing talents. The International Animation & Game Business Conference (iABC) will foster cross-industry collaboration among animation, gaming, film, and literature sectors, driving trends like “premiere economy” and “silver-haired economy” initiatives.
The CICAF Masterclass will feature luminaries like Josh Selig (President of China Bridge Content) and Alex Lin (Walt Disney APAC’s VP of Merchandising and Product Design), sharing insights into animation’s role in culture, technology, and global markets.
A major highlight is the “Animafest Zagreb” exhibition, co-curated by the China Cartoon & Animation Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art, Croatia. It explores Zagreb’s legacy as an animation capital, tracing the Zagreb School of Animation and its storied international festival, while spotlighting 50 years of the world festival of animated film in dialogue with Hangzhou.
A festival for the people
Beyond the main venue, 12 sub-venues and 60 interactive events will engage global creators in reimagining Chinese cultural elements under the banner “See My 72 Transformations of Wukong”.
A fresh addition this year is the CPOP Wave Expo, debuting at Dongchao Art Park on May 28. Featuring 20 IPs--including Honor of Kings, The King’s Avatar, and Joy of Life--selected via data from global platforms like YouTube and TikTok, the expo marks the first large-scale public showcase of China’s top cultural exports.
Meanwhile, the skies above Hangzhou dazzled with a pre-festival drone and light show along the Qiantang River on May 25. Blending traditional motifs, AI innovations, and IPs, the spectacle will continue nightly at 20:00 until Jun 2.
Themed metro trains and stations have also returned. The Binkang Road Station on Line 1 not only features familiar friends from Chinese animation but also includes diverse IPs such as Eiga Doraemon: Nobita no Esekai Monogatari, Stitch! The Movie, and Elio. The animated-themed bus with the CICAF mascot Le Le is taking tourists on tour along the West Lake loop, and some taxis decorated with the same theme can be spontaneously encountered on the streets. Go and meet them!
As Hangzhou is creating itself as a global animation nexus, the 21st CICAF promises to bridge cultures, industries, and generations--proving that in the realm of creativity, the city’s magic is only just beginning.
To buy tickets for the main venue of CICAF, please scan the QR code displayed on the poster.
Entry Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, May 29 - Jun 2, 2025
Exhibition Venue: White Horse Lake Animation Square, Binjiang District, Hangzhou
Ticket Price: 50 yuan per person on weekdays and 70 yuan per person on holidays