The Hangzhou National Animation Industrial Base in the city's hi-tech zone (Binjiang) leads the country in animation film production, according to recent research. It produced 24 titles, totalling 16,886 minutes in length.

Since the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) granted approval over four years ago for establishing both a national animation industrial base in Hangzhou and a national art academy for teaching and research animation, the city's Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone in Binjiang has become one of the first and most prolific state-level animation industrial bases.

So far, about 80 animation, cartoon and video games enterprises have moved into the zone, with over 20 of them being large-scale animation movie and TV production enterprises.

More than that, an industry chain has emerged to embrace creative planning, R&D and production, peripheral product development, service outsourcing, marketing, education and training, investment and financing and technical services.

Hangzhou's creative industry is making remarkable progress against the tide of the current financial crisis. The animation, cartoon and video games industry in Hangzhou's hi-tech zone grew more than 20% in 2008.

According to the latest figures, Magic Mall of Hangzhou and Zhongnan Group Animation Video Co Ltd of Zhejiang ranked third and sixth respectively among the top 10 animation production enterprises in the country.

Exports of original animation a national leader

Large numbers of animation and cartoon production firms have sprouted in Hangzhou, evolving from processing foreign animation and cartoon products in the early stage to producing proprietary, original works. Among them are Timax Digital Film and Production, Prodigious Drawing Co Ltd and Azure Studio.

Zhongnan Group's productions have made their way into 63 countries and regions around the world. In 2008, the company's overseas copyright sales broke the US$3 million mark and its self-operated export of animation products ranked first in the country, accounting for over 80% of China's self-operated animation film exports.

At MIPTV held in Cannes last spring, Zhongnan secured a sales contract worth US$2 million, becoming the leader in China's original animation industry.

from Shirley Pan, Hangzhou Office

(Image courtesy of Xinhua News Agency)