Consumers browse Zootopia 2 co-branded merchandise inside the MINISO LAND section at a store in THE BOX shopping center in Beijing on December 1, 2025. Photo: VCG

 

Disney's animated blockbuster Zootopia 2 has raced past the 3-billion-yuan mark in China, the film's No 1 market worldwide and turbocharging demand for the film related consumer goods.

According to the latest data from online ticketing platform Maoyan, the movie has grossed 3.02 billion yuan ($427 million) in the Chinese mainland market as of Sunday, just 12 days after its November 26 premiere. 

The figure eclipses North American grosses and places the sequel among the top three titles on China's 2025 box-office chart—the highest position ever achieved by an imported animation, news portal ce.cn reported on Monday.

Analysts noted that the success of Zootopia 2 exceeded expectations. The Chinese market made a significant contribution to the animated sequel's record-breaking performance. It highlights the vast market base, strong consumer demand, and huge potential of the Chinese film industry. The enthusiastic reception of quality films reflects the sector's resilience and China's open, inclusive attitude toward global cinematic achievements, underscoring the Chinese market as a key engine of the film industry.

Meanwhile, the movie's popularity has translated quickly into consumer demand for IP‑linked goods. It is fueling a rush for related merchandise, with toys, apparel and co‑branded products frequently selling out and some retailers reporting order backlogs stretching into next spring, CCTV News reported.

One major e‑commerce platform recorded more than a 1,000 percent month‑on‑month jump in searches for Zootopia-related products after Zootopia 2's release, while sales in the toy and collectibles sector rose by over 600 percent in the same period, according to ce.cn.

Platform analytics showed that in the film's opening week, related keyword searches climbed 225 percent and toy category sales surged 670 percent. Sales of specific items such as Judy plush cross-body bags and gift sets featuring the film's animated stars Judy and Nick rose about 300 percent year‑on‑year. 

Merchants and wholesalers in Yiwu, China's small commodities hub, also reported brisk activity. Plush versions of Judy and Nick are prominent across stalls, and some sellers say popular items are gone almost immediately after being listed, ce.cn reported.

"Sales have been incredible. We've run out of stock in our warehouse — items are shipped straight to customers as soon as they arrive. Orders are already scheduled through April," said Yiwu trader Ma Dongmei.

Retail margins are notable: common plush toys with factory prices between 15 yuan and 40 yuan are often resold at substantially higher prices downstream. 

President of Yiwu's cultural products industry association Huang Changchao said that attachment to IP and emotional value are reshaping purchase habits — a low‑priced product can gain 20-30 percent more margin after IP licensing. He added that IP‑enhanced cultural products have contributed more than 100 million yuan in additional revenue for some firms.

By the end of November, over 70 official brand collaborations had been announced across sectors including collectibles, clothing, jewelry, snacks, fast food, e‑commerce and mobile phones, China National Radio (CNR) reported on Sunday.

Total Zootopia IP-related licensing business has tripled in China, with over 2,000 related licensed products expected to launch by the end of this year, the CNR report said.

Experts said the boom reflects deeper shifts in consumption. As the industry pivots from a pure "box‑office economy" toward a diversified consumption ecosystem — spanning travel, dining, collectibles and lifestyle goods tied to film IP — Zootopia 2's merchandise frenzy may be an early indicator of how cinematic hits can power broader retail and cultural consumption.

Wei Pengju, a culture and communications professor at the Central University of Finance and Economics, described the phenomenon as driven by both an "attention economy" and "meaningful consumption."

"Owning IP merchandise signals belonging to a trend and can foster new social circles," Wei said. "Consumers now seek products with more content and meaning, not simply cheaper prices." 

He said that while top‑quality IPs can ignite rapid short‑term demand, long‑term success depends on an IP's sustained value chain development — a strategy exemplified by Disney's long‑term approach to IP.

The Zootopia 2 phenomenon underscores China's growing clout in global animation economics. This year, the single-day box-office record is held by Chinese animation hit Ne Zha 2 with 866 million yuan. The performance of Zootopia 2 is rapidly catching up.

The International Monetary Fund reported that the global IP economy topped $1 trillion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth (CAGR) rate of 9.7 percent from 2025 to 2029. China's IP market is forecast to expand even faster, with a projected CAGR of roughly 13.5 percent for the same period.