The Chinese animation industry has maintained the momentum of robust growth from 2014 on, thanks to the government's supportive policies on animation industry and booming Internet-based new media distribution channels.
In 2014, the total output value of China's animation industry exceeded RMB100 billion (about $15 billion), up 15% from a year earlier.
Also in 2014, China produced 138,579 minutes of domestic TV cartoons, down 32% year-on-year, the lowest level since 2009 and only half of the peak in 2011.
There are two main reasons. First, fierce market competition resulted in slim profits for some animation firms to stay afloat.
Second, proposal for animation production transiting from quantity to quality put forward in the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) promoted local authorities to optimize their support schemes.
In 2014, a total of 45 animated movies were released in Chinese mainland theatres, generating total box office of about $455 million, including about $290 billion contributed by 17 imported animated movies and $160 million by 28 domestic ones.
The influence of Internet on the animation industry is reflected in the following three aspects. First, new media channels are more demanding on the segmentation of animation content. Video websites have special column for animations.
Second, animation is endowed with the property of being social to meet people's social needs, such as “barrage," animation fairs, and animation communities.
And third, new media provides demand for animation derivatives like games on desktop and mobile devices.