A promotional poster for the Monkey King: Hero is Back Photo: CFP

 
Hollywood animated film Kung Fu Panda 2 reigned as king of the animated box office in the Chinese mainland for almost four years since its release in May 2011. However, the top spot now has a new king in domestic animation Money King: Hero is Back.

On Saturday, the studio behind Hero is Back announced Saturday that as of that afternoon, the film had earned a total of 620 million yuan ($99.8 million), while Kung Fu Panda 2's former record was 617 million yuan. It also announced that the film was being shown in 12.11 percent of screens in China despite having been out for two weeks.

"What we have gotten back from audiences goes beyond box office numbers; it is a dream that is getting clearer. The reaction of audiences shows that we can now share good Chinese stories with the rest of the world," Tian Xiaopeng, the film's director said. 

Rao Shuguang, general secretary of the China Film Association, stated that he sees the success of Hero is Back as proof that the gap between Chinese and Hollywood animation is narrowing. Liu Fan, an associated researcher with the Chinese National Academy of Arts, commented that the records set by Hero is Back, Monster Hunt and Jian Bing Man reflect the rising quality of domestic productions. 

Three US films hold places on the top five list of the highest earning animated films in China, while Stand by Me Doraemon, which was imported in May, is the only Japanese film on the list.