Animated blockbuster fuels openings for eager jobseekers with creative bent

The animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 has fueled growth in China's digital cultural and creative industry, driving a surge in job openings for animation, visual effects and game design while attracting a wave of jobseekers, industry insiders say.

As of Saturday, the film, produced by Chengdu Coco Cartoon Co, has grossed more than 15 billion yuan ($2.07 billion) at the global box office, making it the fifth highest-grossing film in history, according to movie ticketing platform Beacon.

Feng Mingjin, general manager of Chengdu Yunshang New Audiovisual Culture Technology Co, told Sichuan Daily on Sunday at the 2025 Chengdu spring job fair in Sichuan province that "Ne Zha fever" has significantly increased demand for talent in the digital cultural and creative sector.

His company offered a record 18 positions at this year's job fair, including film and animation screenwriters, 3D data modelers, video directors and graphic designers.

"The success of Ne Zha 2 has injected new vitality into Chengdu's digital cultural and creative industry. In response, my company has adjusted its business strategies to seize emerging opportunities and gain new momentum," Feng said. "We aim to attract more talent for future business expansion."

Li Lan, a recruitment team leader at Chengdu Christian Technology Co, said the popularity of Ne Zha 2 has drawn an unexpectedly large number of jobseekers to the company's booth, with long lines forming throughout the event.

The company, which contributed to some character designs in the film, offered 15 positions at the job fair, including roles for motion capture game animators, motion capture performers and director's assistants, he said.

"A significant number of applicants came because of the influence of Ne Zha 2, with many traveling from eastern coastal cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen in Fujian province," Li said.

The company received more than 40 resumes in just one morning, with most applicants targeting positions as motion capture performers and director's assistants, he said.

A recent graduate surnamed Yang, who traveled from the Ningxia Hui autonomous region to attend the fair, said he is particularly interested in jobs related to gaming and animation.

"Chengdu is a very livable city with thriving industries, and I hope to secure a job and settle down here," he said.

Peng Yixiao, another recent graduate from Shanghai Ocean University, said he is prioritizing jobs in game design and animation.

"Chengdu is home to many emerging game companies, with a particularly strong focus on action games, which creates many opportunities for jobseekers," he said.

According to this year's Chengdu Talent White Paper, the city's eight key industrial parks in the digital cultural and creative sector have created more than 70 new high-demand talent categories in fields such as gaming, animation, film and television, music and digital publishing.