Chongqing - On the evening of June 9, Yongchuan District in Chongqing was illuminated by the dazzling light and imagination of animated cinema.
With a refreshing early-summer breeze in the air, the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week opened in grand style at Yongchuan Sci-Tech Studio Phase II. Co-hosted by the Chongqing Film Administration and the People’s Government of Yongchuan District, the event arrives at a remarkable moment: the 100th anniversary of Uproar in the Studio, China's first animated short film. Against this historic backdrop, a century of Chinese animation ushered in its "Chongqing Moment" in Yongchuan.
Chongqing International Animation Film Week opens on June 9. (Photo by the event organizer)
More Than 500 Animated Works Gather in the Mountain City
For many viewers watching the opening ceremony via livestream, the evening struck a deeply familiar chord: childhood memories came rushing back.
From early hand-drawn cel animation and ink-wash techniques to today’s digital effects and virtual production, the opening ceremony on June 9 unfolded like a sweeping journey through the collective memory of Chinese animation. At around 7:40 p.m., Ma Liang, the beloved character from The Magic Brush and one of the earliest animated figures known to generations of Chinese children, appeared on stage. With a wave of his "magic brush," he unfurled a magnificent scroll tracing the century-long evolution of Chinese animated cinema.
More cherished childhood memories were brought to life by Chongqing-born actor Chen Kun, who had just returned to his hometown. As the image ambassador of this year's Animation Film Week, Chen fondly recalled classic Chinese animated works such as Havoc in Heaven and Nine-Colored Deer, describing how they had accompanied generations through childhood.
As the image ambassador of this year's Animation Film Week, Chen Kun fondly recalled classic Chinese animated works such as Havoc in Heaven and Nine-Colored Deer, describing how they had accompanied generations through childhood. (Photo by the event organizer)
"These Chinese animation classics grew up with us," Chen said. "Through the medium of animation, they have also carried Chinese culture and Chinese stories to audiences around the world."
Chen also extended a heartfelt invitation to animators worldwide. He noted that Chongqing boasts both striking natural landscapes and strong technological innovation capabilities, and is now fully embracing the wave of digital and intelligent filmmaking. He expressed hope that global animation creators would take root in this fertile ground, empower art through technology, tell Chinese stories through animation, and promote exchanges among world civilizations.
According to organizers, the 2026 Chongqing International Animation Film Week has brought together more than 500 animated works from around the world. The selection committee, composed of five distinguished animation professionals—Rob Minkoff, Yin Hong, Cai Zhijun, Sheila M. Sofian, and Cheng Teng—also made its official appearance. They will select the winners of this year's "Golden Camellia" honors.
"For more than a century, animated films have moved and inspired audiences with imagination, humor, a spirit of adventure, aesthetic expression, and emotional power," said Rob Minkoff, chairman of the selection committee. While creative tools continue to evolve, he noted, the essence of animation remains unchanged: storytelling. The committee, he added, will carefully examine the creativity and dedication behind each submitted work.
Rob Minkoff, chairman of the selection committee, delivered a speech. (Photo by the event organizer)
The opening ceremony also offered a moving reflection on the hardships behind the century-long journey of Chinese animation, a history defined not only by classics but also by perseverance.
When Chang Guangxi, the 84-year-old Chongqing-born animation artist and director of Lotus Lantern, sent his blessings to the event via video, the audience responded with thunderous applause. "Chinese animation has a history of 100 years," Chang said. "In the new century of Chinese animation, I hope Chinese animators will create more works with distinctive national characteristics." At the end of the video, he wrote with his brush: "May the future of Chinese animation become brighter and brighter," a moment that deeply moved the audience.
The evening was not only a tribute to memory, but also a look toward the future. During the “Eastern Scroll” presentation session, a series of outstanding Chinese animated works were showcased, including Liaozhai: Lanruo Temple, White Snake: Afloat, Nobody, Yao-Chinese Folktales 2, Ranbiwa, and Into the Mortal World.
"The truest stories are the ones that endure," said Chen Liaoyu, chief director of Yao-Chinese Folktales 2. "Animation is a tale of imagination, but it is also rooted in real life."
Li Wenyu, director of Ranbiwa, said, "The 50,000 sheets of xuan paper depict not only Ranbiwa, the young boy who seeks fire, but also the rising vitality of Chinese animation."
Yu Shui, director of Nobody, said, "In drawing the little monsters of Langlang Mountain, we are also drawing each and every one of us. Through animation, we protect everyone's wish to 'walk out of Langlang Mountain.'"
This year's Animation Film Week will continue until June 13. A wide range of professional activities will be held, including academic forums and master classes, an exhibition of animation creativity and technological achievements, and a signing and release ceremony for industry cooperation outcomes. Public events such as a film consumption season, themed markets, and outdoor screenings will also be rolled out for residents and visitors.