Shanghai Animation Film Studio

What Shanghai Animation Film Studio does

Shanghai Animation Film Studio (上海美术电影制片厂), legally Shanghai Art Film Studio Co., Ltd., is a state-owned animation enterprise established in April 1957 and operated under Shanghai Film (Group) Co., Ltd. Headquartered in Shanghai with 101-250 employees, it is the oldest and most prolific state-owned animation studio in China, designated a national key animation enterprise by the Ministry of Culture. The studio created the "Chinese Animation School" (中国学派) artistic tradition, pioneering techniques including ink-wash animation (水墨动画), rice-paper hand-drawing (宣纸手绘), paper-cutting (剪纸), puppet animation (木偶), and origami animation (折纸). Its library of approximately 500 original works includes culturally foundational titles such as 大闹天宫 (Havoc in Heaven, China's first color animated feature, 1961/1964), 小蝌蚪找妈妈 (the world's first ink-wash animated film, 1961), 哪吒闹海, 葫芦兄弟, 黑猫警长, 天书奇谭, 大耳朵图图, and 九色鹿 — IPs spanning multiple generations of Chinese viewers.

The studio operates four interconnected revenue pillars: (1) IP licensing and cross-industry brand partnerships covering apparel, food, FMCG, toys, automotive, and luxury categories with partners ranging from Fortune 500 multinationals (LEGO, Oris, Continental, Disney/Pixar) to Chinese category leaders (JD.com, Tmall, SAIC Volkswagen, Bright Dairy, Huaxia Bank, NetEase Yanxuan); (2) original content production and distribution including theatrical films (燃比娃 launching April 2026; 浪浪山小妖怪 August 2025), anthology series (中国奇谭2 exclusive on Bilibili from January 2026), and ongoing development of the 中国奇谭 / 奇谭宇宙 IP universe; (3) direct-to-consumer e-commerce through Tmall and JD.com flagship stores offering figurines, stationery, plush toys, home goods, and tea sets across its IP portfolio; and (4) space/theme collaborations including the Yatuo film theme hotel (2019), 4D cinema experiences, 3D dome screen installations, and AI-powered interactive exhibitions co-developed with Baidu and Yuyuan.

Its technology stack blends traditional Chinese animation craftsmanship with selective digital innovation: ink-wash, paper-cutting, and puppet techniques remain core artistic capabilities, while modern additions include 120Hz high-definition restoration (co-developed with OPPO for 大闹天宫, raising animation from 12 fps to 120 fps with 40,000+ individually drawn frames), 4K digital restoration of classic films (天书奇谭), and 4D sci-fi animation production (萤火, 2021). Distribution leverages exclusive streaming partnerships with Bilibili for flagship content, traditional theatrical release through the China Film distribution circuit, and a growing direct-to-consumer channel on Tmall and JD.com with 100+ active SKUs. Pricing across all licensing and merchandise streams is negotiated bilaterally and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Shanghai Animation Film Studio

Legal name

上海美术电影制片厂有限公司

Website

https://ani-sh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Shanghai Animation Film Studio is a state-owned Chinese animation enterprise founded in 1957, operating under Shanghai Film Group. It produces original animated films and series spanning a ~500-title IP library, monetizes through cross-industry licensing, theatrical distribution, and direct e-commerce via Tmall and JD.com.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animation Production Studio

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Feature Film Production (MPADACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG), 2D (Traditional & Digital) Animation Production (MPADACAA), Stop-Motion & Hybrid Animation (MPAHACAM), Animation Production (2D/3D/Stop-Motion) (MPAAAMAD)

Keywords

• Animation film production
• IP licensing services
• Chinese animation studio
• Ink wash animation
• Animated series production

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. IP授权与跨界合作: 开放IP商务合作，品类覆盖衣食住行玩全行业，通过IP联名、联合营销、商品授权等形式，将经典动画IP授权给合作品牌，涵盖快消品、食品、服装、母婴、家居、玩具、汽车等全行业，从世界500强到中国领军品牌均有合作。
2. 影视内容制作与发行: 制作并发行动画电影和系列动画，通过院线发行、全国艺联专线、B站独家播出等渠道获取票房和播放收入。
3. 衍生商品销售: 通过天猫旗舰店、京东旗舰店等电商渠道以及商城直销，销售手办、玩具、生活用品、图书等IP衍生商品。
4. 播映及出版授权: 通过影视剧发行、视频网站/IPTV等渠道视频播放、出版物、有声读物等获取播映授权收入。
5. 空间/主题合作: 通过商场主题展、线下主题快闪店、主题乐园、文化教育、主题餐饮、舞台剧等空间主题合作项目获取收入。
6. 游戏合作: 通过手游、端游、页游全品类IP授权合作、主题游戏、影游联动等游戏领域合作获取授权收入。
7. 厂牌内容共创: 立足上美影厂牌，发挥制作优势，与品牌共创，打造专属内容，覆盖平面、视频等全内容创意设计制作执行流程。

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shanghai Animation Film Studio produces and distributes animated films and series built on a library of nearly 500 classic Chinese animation works, while monetizing its iconic IPs through cross-industry licensing partnerships and direct-to-consumer merchandise. The studio creates new theatrical releases and series using proprietary traditional Chinese animation techniques (ink-wash, paper-cutting, puppet, origami) combined with modern digital production methods, and sells licensed merchandise through Tmall and JD flagship stores.

Product overview

Shanghai Animation Film Studio (上美影) is a state-owned animation enterprise established in April 1957, renowned as China's oldest, most prolific, and intellectually property-rich animation company. Its product portfolio is organized into four interconnected pillars: (1) a library of classic animation films and television series spanning nearly 500 works — including iconic titles such as 《大闹天宫》 (the landmark color feature that established the "Chinese Animation School"), 《小蝌蚪找妈妈》 (the world's first ink-wash animated film), 《哪吒闹海》, 《葫芦兄弟》, 《黑猫警长》, 《天书奇谭》, 《宝莲灯》, 《大耳朵图图》, 《我为歌狂》, and 《舒克和贝塔》 — which form the foundation of its IP ecosystem; (2) new theatrical productions and series, such as the upcoming hand-drawn feature 《燃比娃》 (April 2026), the theatrical film 《浪浪山小妖怪》 (August 2025), and the sequel anthology series 《中国奇谭2》 (January 2026), which extend classic IP into contemporary storytelling; (3) an IP licensing and business cooperation division offering comprehensive cross-industry brand partnerships encompassing product licensing, promotional collaborations, spatial/theme experiences, gaming, and content co-creation across food, apparel, toys, home goods, and more; and (4) a direct-to-consumer e-commerce operation through Tmall and JD.com flagship stores, merchandising figurines, plush toys, stationery, accessories, and home products featuring the studio's beloved characters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ran Bi Wa (《燃比娃》) Shanghai Animation Film Studio's first hand-drawn rice-paper animated feature film telling the story of a boy named Ran Bi Wa who seeks the secret of warmth by traveling to God Mountain to find his mother A Mo Bu Ji, ultimately achieving adulthood through trials. Uses 2D hand-drawn rice paper as the core technique, innovatively fusing ink-wash, embroidery, sand painting, 3D la ma paper-cutting, and glass plate oil painting animation.
• China Strange Tales 2 (《中国奇谭2》) Chinese-style fantasy animated short film anthology produced jointly with Shanghai Film Yuan, Bilibili, and Chen Liaoyu's studio. Brings together 12 directors to create nine short films in distinct styles, continuing Chinese aesthetics, Eastern imagination, and traditional cultural core while expanding the boundaries of storytelling and artistic expression within the Strange Tales Universe.
• Lang Lang Shan Xiao Yao Guai (《浪浪山小妖怪》) First theatrical animated feature in the China Strange Tales universe, a comedy telling the absurd adventure of four root-level little monsters (pig demon, toad spirit, yellow weasel spirit, and stubble monster) disguised as Tang dynasty monk disciples seeking scriptures in a parallel time-space. Innovatively deconstructs Journey to the West while exploring themes of family, friendship, growth, and dreams.
• IP Licensing and Business Cooperation Services Comprehensive cross-industry IP licensing and business cooperation service covering food, apparel, housing, transportation, toys, and other consumer categories. Provides online and offline IP cooperation services to partner brands, including product licensing, promotional gifts, broadcast and publishing licensing, spatial/theme collaborations, gaming collaborations, and brand content co-creation. Hundreds of well-known brands from Fortune 500 to Chinese leading brands are partners.
• Shanghai Animation Film Studio Official Online Store (Merchandise Retail) Direct-to-consumer merchandise retail operation through Tmall and JD official flagship stores, selling IP-licensed products including Calabash Brothers figurine sets, Black Cat Detective figurine sets, Tianshu Qitan embroidered bookmarks, Ah Fati figurines, and Havoc in Heaven tea gift sets. Product categories include figurine ornaments, plush pendants, stationery, accessories, home goods, and luggage.
• Havoc in Heaven (《大闹天宫》) China's first color animated feature film (upper part completed 1961, lower part completed 1964), regarded as the representative work of the Chinese Animation School. Took 4 years to produce, accumulating 70,000+ original drawings and 100,000+ manuscript drafts, integrating Chinese traditional opera, painting, music, and sculpture art forms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 《中国奇谭2》B站播放量突破9000万，追番人数近680万
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• 中央广播电视总台、重庆市人民政府flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 20262026重庆国际动画电影周由中央广播电视总台、重庆市人民政府指导，重庆市电影局、重庆市永川区人民政府、中央广播电视总台重庆总站主办，上美影多部作品和艺术家在电影周上获得荣誉。
• 工银瑞信基金minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 June 2026上美影与工银瑞信基金携手，以《神笔》IP为纽带，共同致敬那些以创新为笔、以梦想为墨的科技耕耘者，将经典动画IP走进科技与金融的叙事场景。
• 迪士尼·皮克斯（Disney Pixar）flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2026上美影制作了迪士尼·皮克斯《玩具总动员5》宣传短片《抓周》，由上美影制作，以玩具与你的羁绊永远不会改变为主题，带你体验时光流转中的爱与感动。
• 德国马牌轮胎（Continental）minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 May 20262026丙午马年之初，上美影应德国马牌轮胎之邀，借马良之神笔执国风笔墨，描绘祥瑞之马。"上美影《神笔》x德国马牌轮胎"联合营销荣获第17届金鼠标数字营销大赛IP营销类银奖。
• 四川汶川两山产业发展集团有限公司、阿坝州火塘之光商业管理有限公司minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026上海美术电影制片厂有限公司与四川汶川两山产业发展集团有限公司、阿坝州火塘之光商业管理有限公司共同签订战略合作框架协议，以《燃比娃》IP为纽带，深化文化创作、文旅开发、非遗活化等领域合作，推动优质文化资源转化为发展优势。
• 上海电影（集团）有限公司coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026由上海电影（集团）有限公司、上海美术电影制片厂有限公司出品，首部宣纸手绘动画长片《燃比娃》于2026年4月28日全国艺联专线上映。午夜失焦（杭州）文化传播有限公司联合出品，上海电影股份有限公司发行。
• 上影元（上海）文化科技发展有限公司coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2025由上美影、上影元、哔哩哔哩与陈廖宇工作室联合出品《中华奇谭2》，2025年11月官宣定档2026年1月1日在哔哩哔哩独家播出。
• 哔哩哔哩（Bilibili）coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2025由上美影、上影元、哔哩哔哩与陈廖宇工作室联合出品《中华奇谭2》，是继《中国奇谭》（2023年B站独家上线）之后的再度独家战略合作，2025年11月官宣定档2026年1月1日在B站独家播出。
• 上海美罗元宇宙（美罗城）minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 January 2022上美影携手巨型裸眼3D球幕点亮上海徐家汇美罗元宇宙，《大闹天宫》联合巨型裸眼3D球幕共同展示，悟空在美罗球幕与大家见面。改造后的美罗球幕像素达到4K，屏幕总面积3000平米。
• 豪利时（Oris）minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 20212019年上美影与豪利时正式携手，将瑞士钟表与中国动画结合；2021年纪念《大闹天宫》首映60周年，大闹天宫限量版腕表闪亮登场，全球限量发布2000枚。表盘秒针施以金红二色化身为金箍棒。
• 咪咕公司（中国移动）minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 20214K修复工作由中国移动旗下咪咕公司进行，遵照"修旧如旧"原则，对《天书奇谭》影片进行去噪、去划痕、色彩增强、超分等处理，过程中不断测试反复调优，在提升电影清晰度的同时最大限度地保留了电影原始动画的笔触和颗粒感。
• 上海科技馆minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2021上海科技馆、上海美术电影制片厂联合发布4D科幻动画片《荧火》的首支概念先导片，以三维动画为主要制作方式，同时在动作细节上充分考虑4D特效设计，调动二维手绘风格元素突出对特殊情境和情感的塑造。
• 乐高集团（LEGO）flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 20212021年2月25日，上美影与乐高集团跨界合作，打造乐高悟空小侠系列与《大闹天宫》的创意推广短片，通过悟空小侠和齐天大圣的跨时空"对话"，启迪中国儿童传承和发扬齐天大圣勇敢无畏的英雄精神。
• 新东方在线minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 January 2021上美影联合在线教育品牌新东方在线共同开启"知识新宇宙"，孙悟空、葫芦兄弟化身"神仙老师"现身新东方在线，推出"IP联名素养课"，解答语文、数学、英语、自然科学难题，探索动画片里的趣味知识。
• 国家体育总局冬季运动管理中心minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 20202019年10月，国家体育总局冬季运动管理中心联合上海美术电影制片厂共同制作推出冰雪题材动画短片《中国冰雪大扩列》，结合中国传统文化、发扬中华体育精神，运用美影经典动画形象孙悟空、哪吒、雪孩子、葫芦娃、蛋生、二郎神等组成"中国童话联盟"，合力宣传2022年北京冬奥会。
• 京东coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 26 May 2020上美影官方旗舰店入驻京东，是上美影首次与电商平台达成的深度合作，100+新品sku首发上线，覆盖《大闹天宫》《葫芦兄弟》《哪吒闹海》《黑猫警长》《九色鹿》《大耳朵图图》等自有IP产品。同时双方共同策划制作品牌微电影《JOY STORY III：重返618号》，雅培、欧诗漫、华为、小米、vivo等14家知名品牌与上美影跨界联动赋能京东618。
• 光明冷饮minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 May 2020在"光明牌"诞生70周年之际，上海美术电影制片厂携手光明冷饮倾情献礼，全新国潮纪念《大闹天宫》版白雪冰砖联名冷饮，经典联袂重温童年。
• 网易严选minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 March 2020上美影携手网易严选玩转彩妆，联合推出上美影《葫芦兄弟》系列彩妆联名产品，包括护手霜、眼影、香水、口红、面膜、气垫、散粉等全品类美妆产品。
• 天猫（阿里巴巴）coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020上美影官方旗舰店入驻天猫商城，销售葫芦兄弟手办摆件套装、黑猫警长手办摆件套装、天书奇谭刺绣书签、阿凡提手办摆件、大闹天宫茶具套装礼盒等IP衍生商品。
• 百度、豫园股份文化商业集团minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 October 2019上海美术电影制片厂联合百度、豫园股份文化商业集团将《童年英雄的AI幻想》人工智能互动展落地上海豫园华宝楼，百度AI能力加持下让黑猫警长、孙悟空、葫芦娃等经典动画IP"集结归来"，通过语音识别、人脸识别、动态捕捉、肢体识别等AI技术与经典动画故事结合，打造中国动画IP与AI融合创新的范例。
• 亚朵集团minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 20192019年9月9日，上美影与亚朵集团联合打造的亚朵美影主题酒店正式开业，以"梦舍"为主题进行美术馆风格的公共区域改造和主题房间设计，是上美影IP首次在酒店落地，为人们构筑具有新时代特征的动画世界。
• 中国联合航空公司minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 September 2019以中国红为主色调的"连云港号"飞机由连云港市文化广电和旅游局、中国联合航空公司联合上海美术电影制片厂携手打造，全机体西游文化主题彩喷客机，机身喷绘《大闹天宫》中的齐天大圣孙悟空与花果山群猴形象。
• 海澜之家minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 May 2019上美影携手海澜之家推出系列服饰合作。
• 上海电影制片厂、上海上影大耳朵图图影视传媒有限公司coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2018动画电影《大耳朵图图之美食狂想曲》由上海电影（集团）有限公司、上海美术电影制片厂有限公司、上海上影大耳朵图图影视传媒有限公司出品，历经13年积淀耗时5年制作，荣获第31届金鸡奖最佳美术片奖。
• 陈廖宇工作室coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1955《中国奇谭》系列由上美影、上影元、哔哩哔哩与陈廖宇工作室联合出品，陈廖宇担任总导演。汇聚12位导演共同打造九部风格各异的动画短片，既有原班人马的回归，也有新鲜力量的加入，共同拓展"奇谭宇宙"的艺术表达边界。

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fantawild Animation (华强方特): China's largest privately-held animation studio with a focus on original animation IP, themed parks, and cross-industry licensing. Comparable to Shanghai Animation Film Studio in combining animation production with IP monetization, though Fantawild operates with greater commercial scale and modern CGI capabilities.
• Light Chaser Animation (追光动画): Major privately-held Chinese animation studio behind hits like White Snake, New Gods, and Chang An. Direct competitor in original Chinese-language animated feature films targeting mainstream commercial audiences, operating with significantly faster production cycles and modern CGI pipeline.
• Original Force (原力动画): Chinese animation and VFX studio providing 3D animation production services for film, gaming, and commercial clients. Comparable in providing animation production capabilities across feature films, series, and commercial content within the Chinese market.
• Enlight Pictures / Colored Pencil Animation (光线传媒/彩条屋): Publicly-traded Chinese entertainment company with a major animation arm (彩条屋) producing theatrical animation releases. Direct competitor in original Chinese animated feature films, with the largest Chinese animation theatrical track record (e.g., Ne Zha franchise, Monkey King: Hero is Back).

Broad incumbents

• Toei Animation: Long-established Japanese animation studio (Dragon Ball, One Piece, Sailor Moon) with an extensive IP library and multi-decade franchise management expertise. Comparable in library depth and franchise-building track record, though Toei operates with global distribution at much greater scale.
• Studio Ghibli: Iconic Japanese animation studio with strong cultural heritage (40+ year history), distinctive hand-drawn artistic style, and global IP recognition. Comparable artistic positioning (culturally-rooted, artistically distinctive animation) though Ghibli has stronger international recognition and family-led independent governance versus Shanghai Animation Film Studio's state-owned structure.
• Tencent Animation and Comics (腾讯动漫): Animation and comics arm of Tencent, China's largest internet conglomerate. Competes in original Chinese animation IP development with significantly greater capital backing, platform distribution (Tencent Video), and gaming monetization synergies.

Others

• Shanghai Film Group (上海电影集团): Parent conglomerate of Shanghai Animation Film Studio. State-owned diversified media group spanning film production, distribution, and theatrical exhibition. Provides distribution synergies and corporate backing to the studio's IP exploitation, including theatrical release channels.

Emerging players

• iQIYI Animation (爱奇艺动漫): Animation division of major Chinese streaming platform iQIYI. Comparable in distributing original and licensed Chinese animation content; competing for premium animation IP partnerships and exclusive distribution arrangements.
• Bilibili Animation Content: Major Chinese youth-focused video platform and exclusive broadcast partner for Shanghai Animation Film Studio's 中国奇谭 franchise. Comparable as both a distribution partner and emerging competitor producing/co-funding original animation content for the same Chinese youth demographic.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ani-sh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shanghai Animation Film Studio