The 2011 China Animation and Comic Industry Development Report shows the total output of the Chinese animation industry last year ran into 228,000 minutes. This means China has overtaken Japan as the largest animation production center in the world.

But the achievement is a cause for worry rather than pride for Lu Shengzhang, professor at the Animation School of the Communication University of China.

Although the government has spent huge amounts to set up bases for the animation industry and poured a lot of money into animation productions, few results have been sweet. Only a few respectable works from among those that ran into 228,000 minutes could win public praise. Countless low-quality animations, including cartoons, TV programs and films, were made, many of which cannot be even shown, let alone make profit.