France has established itself over time as a respected producer of animated content. French feature films, in particular, generate international interest, both among critics and audiences. Each year, the industry approves several animated films which will be shown in cinemas. Although inconsistent over the past few years, this number rose to thirteen feature films in 2022. Total annual production costs vary widely each year as well, peaking at more than 160 million euros in 2016 due to the release of two exceptionally expensive movies that year: "The Little Prince" and "Animal Kingdom: Let's Go Ape".
The animation sector is also in full expansion as the number of active companies in animated movie production in France has exploded, ranging from 74 in 2004 to 166 in 2021. The same is true for the annual payroll of the movie production sector, which reached a total of 217 million euros in 2021.
The French public is particularly fond of animated films and does not hesitate to rush and see the latest release with family or friends. Fans of animated films can be found in all age categories, although children make up a large share of the audience. More than fifty animated films of all origins are screened on average in theatres in France, almost 30 percent of them French. In 2022, Minions: The Rise of Gru was the most popular animated feature at the box office, followed by "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" and "Lightyear".
