On a night when animation became a universal language, Hangzhou witnessed the power of shared imagination. The Golden Monkey King Awards, regarded as the highest honor in Chinese animated cinema, celebrated visual storytellers from around the world this Friday, with 35 outstanding works recognized — including the stunning Ne Zha 2, which was crowned Best Animated Feature.
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Organized by China Media Group as part of the China International Cartoon and Animation Festival, the event not only rewarded technical and narrative excellence but also highlighted animation’s unique ability to bridge tradition and the future. From France to Russia, and deep into the folklore of China, 108 works from 20 countries came together to tell stories that transcend borders.
The triumph of Ne Zha 2 was no coincidence. The film brings back one of the most iconic figures in Chinese mythology and reimagines him for a new global generation. It is a perfect blend of cultural roots and visual dynamism — capable of resonating with children in Shanghai as much as with youth in Dakar or Paris. Its victory reaches beyond the screen, standing as a symbol of the Global South’s narrative power.
But the night was about more than accolades. With 14 potential international co-production projects unveiled — valued at 46.5 million yuan — the event underscored how animation is also a vibrant economy and a powerful tool of cultural diplomacy. In a divided world, animated stories continue to build invisible bridges.
From Africa to Asia, animation is living a new golden age — where stories no longer need translation, only emotion. And in Hangzhou, that night, it was collective creativity that spoke louder than any language.
