The 20th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival opens in Hangzhou on May 29. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

The 20th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival, or CICAF, opened in Hangzhou on May 29, local media outlets reported.

The festival, running until June 2, features a main venue at the Baima Lake International Exhibition Center, a secondary venue at the China Cartoon and Animation Museum, and additional activities in various districts of Hangzhou.

At the opening ceremony, CICAF signed an International Animation Alliance cooperation agreement with the Kecskemet Animation Film Festival in Hungary, UNIPX Group from New York Comic Con, and the Bucheon International Animation Festival in South Korea. The partnership aims to enhance collaboration in business, events, and cultural exchanges, expanding CICAF's international network.

This year's festival has attracted over 2,100 enterprises and institutions from 50 countries, including prominent domestic companies like CCTV Animation, Zhejiang Radio & TV Group, Shanghai Animation Film Studio, and Bilibili, as well as international brands like Megahouse and HelloKitty.

The festival showcases over 140,000 animation works, including classic brands, popular IPs, trendy merchandise, and niche platforms. Nearly 80 percent of brands in the newly introduced Trendy Creations and Global Goods sections are making their CICAF debut.

Highlighting AI empowerment and talent cultivation, the festival offers over 30 activities, including exhibitions, business exchanges, competitions, and training sessions. The AI-themed areas feature interactive zones like a holographic photo booth, AI image processing workshops, and immersive live-streaming studios, showcasing the integration of technology and animation.

Hangzhou has leveraged CICAF to foster industry growth, earning the title "City of Animation". By the end of 2023, Hangzhou housed 274 animation and gaming companies, employing over 12,000 people and generating over 50 billion yuan ($6.9 billion) in annual output.

CICAF signs an International Animation Alliance cooperation agreement at the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]