Nation's films rise as major force

Inspired by one of ancient China's best-known folk tales, White Snake, which tells of the bittersweet love story between a snake spirit and a handsome man, features a number of romantic scenes aimed at younger audiences.

Featuring a blend of martial arts and picturesque landscapes, The Legend of Hei, which centers on an adorable but powerful cat monster, tugged at pet keepers' heartstrings.

Cao said: "In the past, a number of domestic animators wrongly thought that such works should be made for children, making the storylines too naive and unappealing to adults. But after years of learning from top-class foreign counterparts and keeping an element of exploration in the storytelling, domestic animated works have improved a lot."