Sustainable Development of the Cultural and Creative Industries in the Post-Pandemic Era: A Case Study of the Animation Industry in China

As a novel development concept and model, the cultural and creative industries have become an important sector of the global economy owing to their diverse development pathways. In particular, the animation industry surpasses traditional sectors in scale. This industry demonstrated unprecedented resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its critical significance in the global economy. In this study, the SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat)-PEST (political, economic, social, and technological factor) analytical model was employed to systematically assess various properties of the animation industry in China. Through an in-depth analysis of both internal and external factors affecting the industry and in consideration of conditions in the post-pandemic era, industrial development strategies across macro, meso, and micro levels were proposed to improve the existing development system. It was found that policy guidance at the macro level, improving the industry chain, integrating technologies at the meso level, and expanding target markets and financial channels at the micro level are key strategies for the continued development of the industry. This study offers new insights and directions for the sustainable development of the animation industry in China.