China's 'Oscars of animation': Winners of 2026 'Golden Monkey King Awards' revealed

Hangzhou turned into a celebration hub for animation on Wednesday as the 22nd China International Cartoon and Animation Festival (CICAF) "Golden Monkey King Awards," hosted by China Media Group (CMG), officially unveiled its winners. 

The ceremony brought together industry leaders as well as the vice president of CMG, Yu Junsheng, who presented awards to standout works in the comprehensive categories.

This year, 36 productions took center stage, spanning feature films, series, shorts and comics, showcasing the growing creative power and global reach of animation. Among the winners were The Legend of Hei 2, Yao–Chinese Folktales 2 and When We Were Grass, each reflecting diverse storytelling styles and cultural voices.

Often described as China's "Oscars of animation," the "Golden Monkey King Awards" are widely acknowledged as one of the most influential honors in the animation industry. The competition has long been committed to discovering original, high-quality works and helping Chinese animation step onto the global stage. 

This year's awards launched its global call for entries on March 23, drawing thousands of submissions from 20 countries and regions, including China, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa and Argentina.