by Xinhua writer Zhang Yunlong

BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Disney's "Zootopia 2" has ignited China's year-end box office, delivering a burst of momentum after a relatively sluggish post-National Day period and bringing the industry's ambitious 50-billion-yuan (about 7.07 billion U.S. dollars) annual revenue target clearly within reach.

The sequel, which opened day-and-date with North America on Nov. 26, signaled its blockbuster potential early by setting China's all-time presale record for an animated film, raking in over 300 million yuan, according to ticketing platform Maoyan.

Its box-office performance then surged dramatically. On Nov. 29 -- its fourth day in release -- the film posted a staggering single-day gross of more than 738 million yuan, becoming the highest-earning imported film in a single day in China, surpassing "Avengers: Endgame." Notably, it is the only film outside China's peak Spring Festival season to ever cross the 700-million-yuan mark in a single day.

By the evening of Dec. 1, its sixth day in theaters, the film's cumulative total had raced past 2 billion yuan. This already surpasses the first "Zootopia," which had a final total of 1.538 billion yuan, making the sequel the highest-grossing imported animated film in China's history. It is also the first imported title to cross the 1-billion-yuan mark in China since 2022's "Avatar: The Way of Water."

In a significant development underscoring China's pivotal role, the film's performance has achieved a major milestone. According to the latest data from Maoyan, as of Nov. 30, "Zootopia 2" has generated higher box office revenue in China than in North America during its debut week, making China the film's number one global market.

Industry projections for the film's final China run are now sky-high. Maoyan forecasts a final total of approximately 4.25 billion yuan for "Zootopia 2." Should it reach that level, it could put the film on par with "Avengers: Endgame" and position it to challenge the title of highest-grossing imported film ever in China. Film data platform Beacon also projects the film could top 3.8 billion yuan.

For analysts, the film's success is more than just numbers -- it's a critical case study in contemporary audience behavior and content strategy.

"Theaters are packed once again," said Yin Hong, vice chairman of the China Film Association and a professor at Tsinghua University. He distilled key insights the phenomenon has revealed, saying that imaginative, high-quality animation is a clear favorite among youth, whose social media dominance means that winning their demographic wins the market.

He contrasted this with what he sees as an aging live-action sector, warning that a significant market contraction is inevitable if its screenplays, direction, performances and genres fail to attract younger demographics.

Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association, described the market response to "Zootopia 2" as nothing short of "insane."

"It shows that the audience's passion for cinema remains potent, but the key is supplying more high-quality films, especially those with 'hardcore' cinematic elements that demand the big-screen experience," Rao told Xinhua. He also emphasized the immense strategic value of animation IP, with Disney's multifaceted mastery offered as a key model for the domestic industry to study.

Meanwhile, Lai Li, a Maoyan analyst, connected the dots from "Ne Zha 2" earlier this year to "Zootopia 2" now, pointing to the global box office dominance of animation in 2025. He suggested that its success underscores a key question for Chinese filmmakers: how to effectively merge the animation format with potent IP to deliver fresher and yet more delightful cinematic experiences.

These observations echo views from Si Ruo, director of the Film and Television Communication Research Center at Tsinghua University, who emphasized the importance of IP-building in filmmaking. She argued that blockbusters like Disney's "Frozen" were not merely films, but launchpads for a sustainable commercial ecosystem.

"A movie is a super advertisement," Si said in an industry speech during last week's Beijing International Audiovisual Conference. She stressed that commercial possibilities must be pre-embedded -- from character designs to visual symbols -- during the earliest script-writing phase, creating a "business matrix" that drives long-term revenue through licensing, consumer products, and experiential entertainment such as theme parks and immersive exhibitions.

A prime example of this strategy was a high-profile promotional campaign for "Zootopia 2" at the world's only Zootopia-themed park in Shanghai Disney Resort in November, just days before the film's official release. The resort, according to media reports on the event, was being transformed into a living extension of the sequel.

"The super-powered performance of 'Zootopia 2' has given the current year-end movie season an inspiring and uplifting start," Lai said. With its strong momentum, China's annual box office total has now reached 48.2 billion yuan.

"It now appears not only likely that we will hit the 50-billion-yuan target, but this strong year-end performance is also a powerful shot in the arm for the entire industry," Lai added. Similar optimism was expressed by several film critics and analysts, including Beacon's Chen Jin, in separate comments to Xinhua.

The stage is now set for a packed December slate -- featuring local war films "Gezhi Town" and "Seediq Bale," alongside imports like James Cameron's anticipated "Avatar: Fire and Ash" -- to carry this momentum across the symbolic 50-billion-yuan annual landmark. ■