Animating a bright spot in the movie market

DreamWorks' Kung Fu Panda 3 is among the top 10 of China's 2016 box-office charts of animated films. [Photo provided to China Daily]

With two other animated Disney films in the top 10 list－Finding Dory at eight and Moana at 10－the entertainment giant was the biggest winner in the world's second-largest movie market.

Its powerful rival from Hollywood's "Big Six" had one blockbuster in the 10 highest-grossing animated titles' charts.

Sony Pictures had The Angry Birds Movie, a cinematic adaptation of the namesake game series, in fifth place with 513 million yuan, while Ice Age: Collision Course took the sixth spot with 447 million yuan.

The last installment of the 14-year saga of prehistoric animals, Ice Age 5 resonated with Chinese fans thanks to the familiar characters. It was followed in seventh place by Universal Pictures' The Secret Life of Pets at 390 million yuan.

Interestingly, both the overseas animal-themed films strategically used Chinese star power to expand their influence in China.

Ice Age 5 had three Mahua Funage comedians, Shen Teng, Ma Li and Chang Yuan, to dub its major roles, while The Secret Life of Pets surprised locals with the familiar voices of renowned host He Jiong and household-name comedian Chen Peisi.