Chinese Animation Returns to “Animation Oscars” Main Competition – Nobody Selected for Annecy 2026

On April 28 local time in France, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival officially announced its 2026 feature film competition lineup. The animated feature Nobody (Chinese title: Langlang Shan Xiao Yaoguai), produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio and Shanghai Film Infinity, was selected for the prestigious main competition, competing alongside top animated works from more than a dozen countries for the highest honor – the Cristal for best feature. This marks the first time since 1962, when Tadpoles Looking for Mother won an award at Annecy, that a Chinese animated film has once again taken centre stage at the world’s most prestigious animation festival with a distinctive national aesthetic.

A Return to Annecy’s Top Tier After More Than Six Decades

The Annecy International Animation Film Festival, founded in 1960, is the world’s oldest and largest international A-class animation festival. Its main competition section is renowned for its rigorous artistic standards and forward-looking industry vision, and is widely regarded as the highest benchmark in global animation – the “Oscars of animation.”

The connection between Chinese animation and Annecy dates back to the early 1960s. In 1962, the world’s first ink-wash animated short, Tadpoles Looking for Mother, produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio, amazed audiences with its unique ink-wash technique and won the Children’s Film Award at Annecy. More than sixty years later, Nobody, also produced by Shanghai Animation Film Studio, has once again broken into the main competition – a testament not only to the evolution of Chinese animation as an artistic tradition but also to the fact that original Chinese storytelling has reached the world’s top tier.

Phenomenal Box Office and Strong Overseas Reception

Nobody was created by the original creative team behind Yao-Chinese Folktales (specifically the segment Little Monster’s Summer), directed by Yu Shui, with Chen Liaoyu as supervisor and artistic director. Following its domestic release in China on August 2, 2025, the film quickly became a phenomenon: it grossed 1.719 billion RMB (approximately $251 million USD), with over 47 million admissions, setting a new alltime record for Chinese 2D animated films.

While dominating at home, the film also began its international rollout, opening in markets including Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and North America. In Vietnam, Nobody shot straight to the top of the box office, remaining number one for two consecutive weeks, and has since entered the top five highestgrossing Chineselanguage films of all time in that market. The film’s universal theme – “an ordinary individual’s courage to pursue their dreams” – has resonated with audiences across cultures and borders.

A Distinctive Blend of Eastern Aesthetics and Modern Storytelling

Nobody draws creative inspiration from the Chinese literary classic Journey to the West, yet steps outside the traditional heroic framework. Instead, it focuses on an overlooked little monster from the original story, depicting its journey of chasing dreams amid confusion and transforming through adversity.

Visually, the film translates the expressive, freehand quality of inkwash animation – the interplay between substance and void – into its cinematic language, incorporating imagery from ancient Chinese architecture such as Foguang Temple, Jinci, and Shanhua Temple. The music is grounded in traditional Chinese folk music, boldly blended with guitar, oud, modern synthesizers, and the distinctively regional “Huayin Laoqiang” (a form of Shaanxi opera). This creates a unique auditory narrative where traditional and contemporary, Eastern and exotic sounds collide. These audiovisual elements, imbued with an Eastern sensibility, not only showcase the unique charm of China’s natural landscapes, ancient architectural heritage, and folk music, but also engage in a crosscultural dialogue with global audiences through innovative, hybrid expression.

Two Chinese Films in Competition, Highlighting Industry Rise

Notably, this year’s Annecy feature competition includes two Chinese animated films: alongside Nobody, the other is Tana, directed by Ji Zhao and Ke Er Zhu. Marcel Jean, Artistic Director of the Annecy Festival, made a special point of noting during the lineup announcement: “The Asian market is also very interesting. Beyond Japan, it’s Korea, the Philippines… eight Asian countries including China, which has itself an absolutely incredible evolution. Chinese artists and producers have put an emphasis on relatable storytelling, and we can sense the switch in the markets they target as well.”

Shanghai Film Infinity, a subsidiary of Shanghai Film Group, stated that the selection of Nobody is a significant milestone – not only marking another high-profile showcase for Chinese animation artistry on the world stage, but also opening a core channel to the global market, promising broader international attention and potential cooperation opportunities.

Carrying a Legacy Forward, Reaching the World

From the inkwash marvel of Tadpoles Looking for Mother in 1962 to the main competition of Nobody in 2026, Chinese animation has travelled a path from national stylistic selfawareness to global narrative confidence. Rooted in traditional Chinese culture yet brimming with contemporary innovation, Nobody tells a dreamchasing story that is both deeply Chinese and universally resonant.

As the film’s English title Nobody suggests – every ordinary “little monster” can become the protagonist of their own journey. And when such a story is seen and embraced by audiences around the world, the “Langlang Mountain” of Chinese animation may no longer seem so distant.

About the Annecy International Animation Film Festival
Founded in 1960 and held every June in Annecy, France, the Annecy Festival is globally recognised as the premier animation film festival. Its main competition Cristal award is one of the highest honours in world animation. The 2026 edition will take place from June 21 to June 27.