(Yicai) Dec. 8 -- The incredible success of Zootopia 2 in China has propelled demand for related merchandise, with the Disney animated movie racking in more than USD3 billion (USD431.9 million) at the Chinese box office.

The most popular Zootopia 2 items are the Gary De'Snake plush toy and the carrot recorder pen. "The Gary De'Snake plush toy is out of stock and may remain unavailable for some time," the owner of an official store at Shanghai Disney Resort told Yicai. "People who want to buy the carrot recorder pen need to line up from 7 a.m. to buy it, as the new arrivals sell out within minutes."

Non-official merch is also very popular at the moment. Luckin Coffee has launched a new collaboration with Zootopia 2. Yicai visited one of the company's coffee shops in Guangzhou and found that all related products were sold out, with customers even snatching up all themed paper cups.

Products under Chow Tai Fook Jewellery's collaboration with Zootopia 2 are in high demand, reporting strong sales, the staff from a jewelry store told Yicai. Many items sold out soon after hitting shelves, often purchased through preorders.

Also Miniso collaborated with Zootopia 2, launching over 100 new branded products across 10 categories, such as toys, beauty, and stationery, Chen Chang, public relations director at the Chinese budget retailer, told Yicai. The most popular items are the blind boxes and plush toys, with some already being sold out.

With all these Zootopia 2 products available, Chinese people have begun sharing tips on how to properly prepare before going to watch the movie in cinemas, Yicai learned from social media sites. First, a drink from Luckin or an ice cream at Dairy Queen, then shop for merch at Miniso, and finally, once at the theater, use artificial intelligence models to generate a selfie with Nick and Judy.

Interest-driven consumption is becoming a new trend in China, with Gen Z more willing to spend on what they love, Chen explained. Many IP characters have large fan bases that have a deep emotional connection with the collaboration products, as purchasing them is a way for fans to associate with those characters.

Cross-industry collaboration with popular IPs is expanding, reflecting increasing demand for brand and cultural recognition in the modern consumer market, Jiang Han, senior researcher at Pangoal Institution, told Yicai. This trend is expected to continue, as IPs can effectively enhance product appeal and stimulate consumer purchasing desire, he added.

Zootopia 2 has achieved a box office of CNY3.05 billion in China as of 9.46 a.m. today since its release on Nov. 26, making it the country's highest-grossing imported animation ever, according to ticketing platform Maoyan Pro.

The film's immense popularity has also boosted ticket sales in IMAX and 4D cinemas, which offer enhanced viewing experiences. In the first five days since release, Zootopia 2 broke multiple IMAX box office records for animated movies, earning a total of CNY146 million (USD20.7 million).

Yicai learned from some cinemas that tickets for Zootopia 2's 4D screenings were almost sold out, with only a few shows available during non-peak weekday hours for nearly CNY100 (USD14). Other 4D cinemas were all sold out until next weekend, prompting scalpers to raise prices.

The exquisite production of Zootopia 2, Disney's successful marketing campaign, and the fact that the animation is suitable for families have all contributed to driving its box office success, analysts told Yicai.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Futura Costaglione