International cartoon producers are making their way to China's cell phone cartoon and animation market to gain a foothold in the world's largest cell phone market.

"One exciting venue which holds great potential for animation in China and around the world is the cell phone," said Sander K. Johnson, president of International Television for Asia (ITA), on Monday at the Fourth China Cartoon Industry Forum held in Changsha,capital of central China's Hunan Province.

ITA has signed an agreement with the Beijing China Cartoon Media Group Co. LTD (BCCM) to deliver cartoons, games, screen savers and other content to China Mobile earlier this year.

Some well-known American cartoon classics like Superman, Betty Boop, Casper the Friendly Ghost and Felix the Cat will be introduced to China's cell phone screens, Johnson said.

At the end of September, China had 377 million mobile phone subscribers, or an average of 29 mobile phones per 100 people, and the number is still growing.

"There is a huge audience for games and animated messaging. We see it as the next great wave of entertainment driven demand in China," Johnson said.

China Mobile will launch a cell phone cartoon contest next month to motivate the country's fledging cartoon industry.

(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2005)