China's domestic animated films see 78.6% box-office surge: report

HANGZHOU - Domestic animated films screened in China generated more than 2 billion yuan ($300 million) in 2015, posting growth of 78.6 percent from the previous year, according to a report released Wednesday at the 12th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival in the eastern city of Hangzhou.

A total of 57 animations were screened in China, including 43 domestic productions, and ticket sales amounted 4.4 billion yuan, up 45 percent year on year, according to the report on China's animated film industry.

"Monkey King: Hero Is Back," which made a record 950 million yuan, topped China's domestic film box office chart.

Fourteen foreign animations were screened in China last year, or one fourth of the total number. However, they pulled in 2.4 billion yuan, more than half of the box office revenue for animated movies.

There were 33,700 screens across China by the first quarter of this year. This year is regarded as important time for China's film industry, especially for animations, with box office revenue expected to surpass 6 billion yuan, according to the report.