A pair of late-Millennial brothers are transforming their rural hometown in east China's Jiangxi Province by using technology to improve farming efficiency, boost crop yields, and increase incomes for other local villagers.
The two siblings, Zhang Peng and Zhang Jian, returned home to their native Tanbu Township after graduating from college. Today, they are skilled operators of a smart rice field management system that allows real-time monitoring of crop conditions.
However, their journey to becoming "tech farmers" was anything but easy. They joined their father's cooperative after returning to Tanbu, but with little hands-on experience, the Zhang brothers faced numerous setbacks.
They persisted through each challenge, turning to books and even sought advice from agricultural experts. Crucially, they maintained constant communication with local farmers, and over time, their determination paid off.
"At the beginning, it was a mess. For example, we couldn't kill the weeds or insects. Then we began study and finally figured out the solutions. In the past few years, the yield has been stable and has increased a lot," recalled Zhang Jian.
The duo didn't stop at just managing their own fields, instead aiming to modernize farming across the whole village.
With support from a special subsidy of 350,000 yuan (about 48,500 U.S. dollars) from the local Agricultural and Rural Affairs Bureau, they purchased a range of advanced agricultural equipment. Still, convincing villagers to embrace mechanization wasn't easy.
"We had to take action and let the results speak for themselves. For example, we showed them that adopting machines to harvest rice ensured that not a single grain was left behind," said Zhang Peng.
"At first, the villagers thought we faked it. But after a month or two, the paddies began to turn green and looked even better than theirs, with a higher yield, too. They never expected us to control pests and weeds so efficiently. It was unbelievable to them," Zhang Jian said.
After years of hard work, the two brothers managed to promote mechanized farming across eight neighboring villages and five cooperatives, creating job opportunities for 120 local villagers.
"I used to work in Jiangsu, but seeing how well they were doing back home, I decided to return and join them as a 'field manager'. Working here is closer to home and the income is reasonable. The two brothers are hardworking and reliable, so we feel confident working alongside them," said Xie Congchun, a local villager.
Young brothers harness modern technologies to mechanize farming in east China
An industry observer said that 2026 is poised to be a "year of sequels and cultural stories" in global animation, following a strong 2025 where such films dominated box offices worldwide.
With heavyweights like Toy Story 5, Minions 3, and China's perennial favorite Boonie Bears set for release, along with culturally rooted productions such as The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang, the coming months are expected to draw large audiences and reinforce animation's central role in cinema.
This optimism is built on a solid foundation from the previous year.
Looking back at China's film market in 2025, animated features emerged as a powerful driving force. Four of the year's top 10 highest-grossing films were animations, three of which were domestic productions.
Total animation revenue exceeded 25 billion yuan (around 3.58 billion U.S. dollars), capturing nearly 50 percent of the annual box office. As the new year unfolds, the animation sector continues to shine with promising highlights.
A key trend driving this momentum is the surge of sequels from major franchises.
"One notable trend is the abundance of sequels to classic animated films, particularly from Hollywood. Several iconic series are releasing new installments, making 2026 a year of animated sequels. Given their strong IP foundation, these sequels are expected to attract more audiences' attention and achieve solid box office results," said Hu Jianli, secretary general of the Chinese Film Critics Society.
Alongside these international sequels, domestic animation IPs are also deepening their influence and expanding their reach. The annual Boonie Bears series will welcome its latest installment, while the popular TV series The Immortal Ascension is set for its big-screen debut.
"It's fair to say that the Boonie Bears series has maintained the most consistent quality among domestic animated film franchises over the years. Its expansion from television to movies, merchandise, and theme parks represents a fully developed industrial chain, greatly strengthening the IP's presence in the public consciousness. As for The Immortal Ascension, it's the first time that the animation IP is adapted for the big screen, which naturally generates exceptional attention—especially following the successful live-action web series last year. If this first animated film adaptation succeeds, it has the potential to become a major film IP in its own right," said Hu.
Beyond the reliance on established franchises, another significant creative trend is the growing number of animated films drawing inspiration from China's rich classical literature and historical epics. This approach aims to connect with audiences through deeply rooted cultural narratives.
A leading example is a prominent Chinese animation studio Light Chaser Animation's upcoming "The Three Kingdoms: War 1 Luoyang", which dramatizes the early power struggles from the famed historical period.
"We are seeing a clear increase in animated films adapted from classic Chinese novels and myths. Light Chaser Animation Studios' 'New Culture Series' has performed exceptionally well in our animated film market—for example, 30,000 Miles from Changan earned over 1.8 billion yuan (around 257.98 million U.S. dollars) at the box office. This series has truly succeeded in creatively transforming and innovatively developing China's outstanding traditional culture for the big screen, while also resonating emotionally with today's young audiences through its storytelling and character adaptations," said Hu.
Beyond sequels and adaptations rooted in traditional culture, original animated films are also carving out their space with unique concepts and distinctive styles, showcasing further creative possibilities.
Titles such as Arco, a 2025 animated science-fantasy film, and Pixar's Hoppers exemplify this trend of innovation.
"I believe animated films will remain a major force in the global box office in 2026. The worldwide top-grossing film of 2024 was Inside Out 2, and in 2025 it was China's Ne Zha 2. So I'm confident that animated films will once again rank among the highest-grossing releases globally this year," Hu said.
Animated films set to dominate 2026 global box office with strong lineup
