The highest honor for Chinese animation, the Golden Monkey King Award, was presented on Wednesday at the 22nd China International Cartoon and Animation Festival (CICAF) in Hangzhou, a bustling animation hub in east China's Zhejiang Province.
Chinese animated film "The Legend of Hei 2" and animated series "Yao-Chinese Folktales 2" won the honor this year, with another 34 animated works awarded at the event.
Sponsored by China Media Group, the competition started from March 23, and attracted more than a thousand original animation works from 20 countries and regions like China, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. After a round of selection, 82 works advanced to the final round. "We're very happy to see that not only 2D animation and 3D animation but all forms of Chinese animation, whether it's traditional or modern styles, comics, TV series, or movies -- are thriving. Only when all of these are improved can Chinese animation truly flourish. In the future, we'll offer animation fans richer forms of expression and more productions. We'll repay everyone with our works," said Cao Zijian, producer of "The Legend of Hei 2."
"The Legend of Hei 2" was screened in Chinese theaters nationwide on July 18, 2025, grossing 533 million yuan (about 78.74 million U.S. dollars) at the box office.
Originating as a web cartoon series launched in March 2011, "The Legend of Hei" has been building a substantial fanbase among animation fans in recent years.
The theatrical release of the first film in 2019 proved commercially successful, grossing 315 million yuan in China, with its popularity extending internationally.
A matchmaking meeting for works shortlisted for the Golden Monkey King Award was held on Tuesday, resulting in 18 intended cooperation agreements with a total value of 49.5 million yuan.
The cooperation is expected to promote the deep linkage of the entire animation industry chain.
Inaugurated in 2005, the festival has been held in Hangzhou annually.
Winners of China's top animation honor revealed
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), the body responsible for maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, announced on Friday new procedures for vessels seeking passage through the waterway, including a requirement that transit requests be submitted at least 48 hours in advance.
In a post on social media platform X, the PGSA stressed that only vessels that comply with the requirements will be "cleared for passage promptly."
The PGSA said passage requests must be submitted exclusively through its website and email address, and must include vessels' "valid and accessible" contact information. To avoid delays, vessels are required to submit passage requests and necessary information "at least 48 hours prior to arrival at the strait area," it said.
The PGSA also announced that, during the 60-day period specified in the newly signed peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States, ships will be exempt from charges related to passage through the strait. Costs associated with security, safety and environmental services, as well as related Iranian insurance requirements, will be covered by the Iranian government.
Vessels must coordinate with Iranian authorities in advance regarding the designated route and time of crossing the Strait of Hormuz, it said, adding that vessel owners will bear responsibility for any failure to comply with the regulation.
The announcement came a day after Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) issued an order for the swift handling of requests by vessels for passage through the Strait of Hormuz in line with the Iran-U.S. MoU.
According to the SNSC, under the MoU, no fee will be charged for 60 days for passage by ships requesting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, and all the expenses will be covered by the Iranian government.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region, and tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States.
Iran issues new procedures for vessels requesting passage through Strait of Hormuz
