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The 2026 Annecy International Animation Festival was held from June 21 to 27, with the MIFA market running concurrently from June 23 to 26. Guided by the State Council Information Office and the National Radio and Television Administration, organized by the China Animation Association, and once again executed by Zoland Animation, the "China Pavilion" made its scheduled appearance at the MIFA market. With over two decades of deep involvement in overseas exhibitions, Zoland Animation once again took center stage at this premier event. Wu Jia, Chairwoman of Zoland Animation, led her team throughout the festival, engaging in in-depth exchanges with animation organizations from more than 40 countries and regions, steadily bringing the Eastern aesthetics of Chinese animation to the world.
A Pavilion with Character: Eastern Charm in Full View
On the high-definition large screen at the center of the exhibition area, trailers for A New Happy Dad and Son & Magic Eye Animates Movie: The Chaotic 7th Day, Rubi's Adventure, legendary Su Dongpo, and Legend of King Qian, along with AI-produced short films, played in rotation. The scenes of New Happy Dad and Son & Magic Eye embarking on adventures together in a fantasy world drew the attention of numerous professional visitors, many of whom approached the staff after watching the trailers to inquire about distribution plans and collaboration opportunities.
At the booth, Zoland Animation had carefully arranged its own "cultural space." Adorable plush figures of "Rubi," the sweet-toothed cat "Magic Eye," and the cool-yet-cute "Yimo" were lined up, their endearing looks attracting many visitors to stop and admire them. On the table, fan-shaped souvenirs, bookmarks, and badges printed with visual posters of the films were neatly displayed, with Eastern charm subtly flowing through every detail. Staff also prepared stamp-collecting cards for visitors, and getting the exclusive Zoland Animation stamp became a "check-in" ritual for many attendees.
With 164 AI comic series, eight foundational Chinese language courses, and the "Yimo" IP boasting over 8 million followers overseas, Zoland Animation also highlighted its latest achievements in AI comics, the Zoland Tika "AI Animation Chinese Language School Platform," and Zoland Leyou, attracting numerous industry professionals to inquire about details.
Fruitful Negotiations: Steady Progress in Multinational Cooperation
Throughout the exhibition period, Zoland Animation held over 30 negotiation meetings, covering more than 20 countries and regions including France, India, South Africa, Malaysia, the United States, and Germany. At the negotiation tables, original animated films such as A New Happy Dad and Son & Magic Eye Animates Movie: The Chaotic 7th Day, Rubi's Adventure, Legend of King Qian, and legendary Su Dongpo received multiple expressions of cooperation interest, with companies including Farham Medya Ticaret LTD and HIHILULU showing positive intentions. The Zoland Tika "AI Animation Chinese Language School Platform" attracted interest from a local Chinese language school in France for collaboration, while the AI comic series Journey to the West Apocalypse sparked co-production interest from an Indian client, with both parties planning to jointly advance an AI feature film project. Negotiation directions covered co-productions, overseas distribution, animation production, exhibition invitations, distribution into the Chinese market, and resource sharing with universities, among others. Notably, the HIHILULU Chinese language school expressed interest in Zoland Animation's catalog for use as teaching materials in Chinese language instruction.
British animation director Allan Dodgeon and his company reached a preliminary cooperation agreement with Zoland Animation and signed on-site, planning to co-produce an animated feature film created with the assistance of artificial intelligence. Dodgeon noted that Chinese animation companies are actively embracing AI, while Chinese animation creators are adept at drawing inspiration from traditional culture. The combination of technological innovation and cultural depth endows Chinese animation with stronger creative expression and narrative depth, creating a solid foundation for international cooperation.
Voice of Promotion: Chinese Animation Resonates
On the afternoon of June 25, local time, the "Exploring Eastern Aesthetics, Coexisting in Harmony" China Outstanding Animation Showcase was held at the Annecy Palais des Congrès. Four institutions presented 14 projects across diverse categories, including traditional film and television animation, online animation, AIGC animation, and animation festival events. As one of the participants, Zoland Animation spotlighted its co-produced animated feature with CCTV Animation, A New Happy Dad and Son & Magic Eye Animates Movie: The Chaotic 7th Day. From Legendary Su Dongpo to Legend of King Qian, and now this year's feature film, Zoland Animation has continuously brought its original animation works to the Annecy stage for years. This year's featured film marks the first-ever collaboration between Zoland Animation's "Magic Eye" and CCTV Animation's "New Happy Dad and Son"—two beloved national IPs appearing together for the first time. With a light-hearted comedic tone aimed at family audiences, the film tells the story of the protagonist instantly growing up with the magical power of Magic Eye's third eye, unexpectedly stepping into the adult world. Beneath its fantastical adventure surface, the film gently touches upon real-world issues such as children's psychology, parent-child relationships, and modern educational anxiety.
At the showcase, Zoland Animation also presented its AI comic series, the Zoland Tika "AI Animation Chinese Language School Platform," and Zoland Leyou. The company plans to produce 164 AI comic series totaling over 10,000 minutes of content. Zoland Tika has pioneered the "Animation IP + AI-powered game + International Chinese Language Education" model, offering eight foundational Chinese language courses. The "Yimo" character incubated by Zoland Leyou has surpassed 5 million followers on TikTok alone. From content production to technological applications, and from IP operations to educational services, Zoland Animation's footprint continues to expand.
According to preliminary on-site statistics, the China Joint Pavilion received over a thousand professional visitors on its first day, and accumulated more than 210 negotiation meetings throughout the entire exhibition period, covering nearly 40 countries and encompassing directions such as co-productions, animation production technology exchanges, international distribution, procurement, talent introduction, and festival award collaborations. In addition to the booth display and showcase, the China Joint Pavilion also organized a series of side events including the Animation Study Masterclass, the China-Europe Animation Education Dialogue, and project signing ceremonies.
Through these works and details, visitors experienced not only the profound heritage of a thousand-year-old culture but also the vitality of bold creative innovation. Chinese animation is integrating into the global industry landscape with growing confidence. And Zoland Animation stands as a solid footnote in this wave of global outreach. From heritage IPs passed down through generations to new formats driven by cutting-edge technology, the company has demonstrated through more than two decades of dedication that Eastern aesthetics are not merely echoes of the past preserved in museums, but living narratives unfolding on screens. When the brush meets AI, and when tradition merges with modernity, this animation company from Hangzhou is marking Chinese originality on the global map of the animation industry.