The 21st China International Cartoon & Animation Festival's "Golden Monkey King" Awards ceremony took place on May 30 in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province.

Among the 35 winners was Rice Fish, produced by Hangzhou Younuo Animation Company and Qingtian Agricultural Tourism Development and Investment Company, which won bronze in the General Award's Animated Series category.

The series highlights the symbiotic relationship between rice and fish in the rice-fish co-culture system that flourishes in Qingtian county, Lishui, Zhejiang.

Qingtian has a long history of rice-fish co-culture that spans over 1,300 years. In fact, the system was recognized in 2005 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System.

A scene from the animated series, Rice Fish. [Photo/WeChat ID: wxlishui]

Following its call for entries on March 17, the festival attracted thousands of original animations from 20 countries and regions, including China, France, Russia, and the United States.

After rigorous selection, 108 works progressed to the final round, with 35 outstanding entries ultimately receiving accolades — including the globally acclaimed animation film Ne Zha 2.

The "Golden Monkey King" Awards continue to be a prestigious platform for recognizing excellence and promoting the global influence of Chinese animation, cementing its status as a key industry benchmark.