The animation landscape is experiencing a significant shift, with Chinese productions increasingly dominating the global box office. , brought a flurry of news, from new anime series debuts to box office milestones, signaling a dynamic period for the industry.
Box Office Records Fall to Chinese Animation
The most striking development is the continued success of Chinese animated films. , reports indicated that Ne Zha 2
is on track to surpass all Disney films and become the highest-grossing theatrical animation release of all time. This achievement is particularly notable as it’s being driven almost entirely by its performance in China.
As of , Ne Zha 2
had already grossed $1.89 billion in China, with an additional $13.8 million in the U.S. And Canada, and $3.3 million in Australia, bringing its global total to $1.91 billion. The film is poised to overtake Spider-Man: No Way Home
and potentially reach $2 billion, joining an exclusive group of films to achieve that milestone. This success marks a significant moment, as Disney had held the title of highest-grossing animated film for 82 of the last 87 years.
The success of Ne Zha 2
follows the strong performance of Boonie Bears: Time Twist
last year, further demonstrating the growing strength of the Chinese animation industry. This isn’t simply a domestic phenomenon; Ne Zha 2
broke the box office record for Chinese films in Thailand, highlighting its international appeal.
Anime News: New Series, Manga Adaptations, and Character Polls
Beyond the box office, the anime world is buzzing with new releases and adaptations. The Great Jahy’s Wakame Konbu
is set to debut a new series on . Crunchyroll Manga is expanding its catalog with 30 new titles from J-Novel Club, offering fans a wider range of reading material.
In the manga realm, Abrams ComicArts’ Kana has licensed Inio Asano’s Before Dawn
and The End Of The World
for English publication. Maki Enjōji is launching a new series in March, while Osamu Tezuka’s Phoenix
manga will receive a live manga performance at the MoN Takanawa Museum. Several other manga titles are seeing continued activity, including a second volume of Soredemo Kichijoji dake ga Sumitai Machi Desu ka?
after nearly five years, and the end of The Duke’s Daughter Drops Her Engagement and Facade
.
The Winter 2026 Anime Character Polls opened on , with initial results expected on . This provides a platform for fans to voice their preferences and potentially influence future projects.
Adaptations and Global Expansion
The trend of adapting webtoons and manga into other formats continues. A Joyful Life
webtoon is getting a short-form live-action series adaptation, and The Stellar Swordmaster
webtoon is being adapted into a mobile RPG. NEJIGANAMETA’s Ladies on Top
manga is receiving a live-action series treatment.
Naver Webtoon is also pushing its Flower Scholar
character project with a global merchandise push, demonstrating the increasing commercialization of webtoons beyond their digital origins.
Other Notable News
Several other projects are progressing, including the release of the story trailer for BlazBlue Entropy Effect X
, the addition of Infinity Castle Tanjiro DLC to Demon Slayer: The Hinokami Chronicles 2
on , and the announcement of the ending theme song artist for The Classroom of a Black Cat and a Witch
anime. Band-Maid’s London concert tickets go on sale this week, and Mamoru Hosoda’s Scarlet
anime film has earned $260,000 in the United States.
Finally, Scarlett Johansson’s career was highlighted by Comic Basics, noting her 30+ years in Hollywood, beginning with roles in films like North
(1994) and continuing through critically acclaimed performances in Girl With a Pearl Earring
and Lost in Translation
(both 2003). This serves as a reminder of the longevity and evolution of talent within the industry.
The entertainment industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with global markets playing an increasingly important role. The success of Chinese animation, coupled with the ongoing adaptation of various forms of media, suggests a dynamic and exciting future for the industry.
