China registers 76 new animated series in September: fantasy genre dominates

The Chinese television animation market keeps growing at an impressive pace. According to official national production registration data, 76 animated series were approved in September 2026, totaling 15,208 minutes of content.

These figures confirm the country's commitment to animation as a cultural industry. And the most striking part is not just the volume, but where studios are heading: the fantasy and traditional folktale genre accounts for nearly half of everything being produced.

Folktales and culture dominate the registration

Of the total approved series, 32 belong to the folktale genre, with 7,025 minutes. That represents 42.1% of the projects and 46.2% of the registered airtime. It is, by far, the favorite genre among Chinese studios.

The cultural genre follows, with 25 series and 3,934 minutes, 32.9% of the total projects. Together, these two genres account for three quarters of all series approved during the month. Chinese animation continues to bet on stories rooted in its tradition and heritage, a trend already visible in recent years.

The rest of the landscape

Further down the list, other genres show more modest numbers. Educational animation registered 7 series and 2,204 minutes, 9.2% of the total. Science fiction comes in with 6 series and 1,001 minutes, 7.9%.

The curious figure is realistic animation, with just one single series of 468 minutes in the entire month. It is the least represented genre, with barely 1.3% of the projects. Finally, the other genres category groups 5 series and 576 minutes, 6.6% of the total.

List of changes in animated series production for September 2026.lmtw.com

The order by percentage makes the landscape clear: folktales, culture, education, science fiction, other genres, and closing the list, realism. A reflection of where the Chinese television animation industry is looking right now.

It remains to be seen how many of these 76 series will end up on international platforms. In recent years, many Chinese animated productions have made the leap abroad, especially fantasy and culturally themed ones, which connect with audiences already enjoying titles like cultivation novel adaptations or Chinese mythology stories.