China saw robust growth in the animation box office in 2016 despite a sluggish overall movie market, said a report released Monday at an international animation festival.

Animated movies shown in China last year attracted 220 million viewers with a total box office of 7 billion yuan (1 billion U.S. dollars), up 70.5 percent and 58.9 percent respectively year on year, said the report.

The report, jointly drafted by scholars, directors, screen writers and business managers, was released at the 13th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province.

Zhang Baiqing, honorary head of the China Film Critics Association, led the compilation of the report.

Box office sales in China increased by 3.7 percent in 2016 to 45.71 billion yuan, ending double-digit growth annually since 2003, figures show.

However, animated movies, especially foreign ones, have witnessed rocketing growth in both box office sales and viewer numbers.

Among the total 62 animated films shown last year, 23 foreign movies took in total box office earnings of 4.66 billion yuan with 149 million viewers, up 98.1 percent and 118.1 percent year on year, according to the report.