Dongguan’s presence at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival reflects a broader shift in China’s toy industry—from contract manufacturing to creating globally recognized intellectual property. Long known as one of the world’s largest toy manufacturing hubs, the city is now using international creative events to showcase original characters and collectible brands, reinforcing its ambition to compete on creativity rather than production alone. Industry figures note that nearly 85% of China’s art toys are manufactured in Dongguan, while local brands are increasingly exporting their own IP to consumers worldwide.
For the global toy business, the strategy is significant. Animation festivals like Annecy have become valuable platforms where animation, licensing, publishing, gaming and consumer products converge. By exhibiting original art toy brands alongside animation properties, Dongguan is positioning collectibles as entertainment-driven franchises rather than standalone products. It’s another signal that the future of the collectible toy market will be driven as much by storytelling, character development and global licensing opportunities as by manufacturing expertise.
GUANGZHOU, China, June 25, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dongguan, China – On June 23 (local time), the 50th Annecy International Animation Film Festival opened in the French town of Annecy. More than ten art toy companies from Dongguan, known as “China’s Art Toy Capital,” participated in a joint exhibition, showcasing more than 100 original creations across a wide range of categories, including mecha figures, plush toys, metal model toys, and PVC collectibles.
Founded in 1960, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival is one of the world’s four major animation festivals and is widely regarded as the “Oscars of Animation.” Sixty-six years ago, China’s first ink-wash animated film Baby Tadpoles Look for Their Mother, received an award here. Today, Dongguan’s art toys have appeared on the same stage in physical form, reflecting the evolution of Chinese creativity over more than half a century.
As China’s only “Art Toy Capital,” Dongguan is home to over 8,000 toy manufacturers and nearly 1,500 supporting enterprises, accounting for nearly 85 percent of China’s art toy production. One out of every four animation-related merchandise products worldwide is made in Dongguan. In Shipai Town, the industry’s most concentrated area, the entire process—from design and prototyping to manufacturing—can be completed within a 15-minute drive, with the fastest turnaround from design to mass production taking as little as 10 days.
Dongguan is currently developing a 112.2-square-kilometer art toy cultural and tourism district, with the goal of creating a destination where visitors can experience, purchase, and enjoy art toys. This August, the 16th China International Animation Copyright Fair will be held in Shipai Town in Dongguan, inviting art toy companies and enthusiasts from around the world to participate.
