A recent discussion around Chinese vs. Japanese anime has made me realize a couple of things.
First, Chinese animation is already popular globally, but via video games, rather than TV/movie format. People waiting for the grand renaissance of Chinese animation in TV/movie format are missing the forest for the trees. Youths today watch short format videos on Tik Tok and play mobile games like Genshin Impact. You shouldn't be expecting Chinese Dragon Ball Z.
Second, there is starting to be (or always was) a "Chinese anime style" that is clearly derived from Japanese anime but also distinct from it. It's similar to the American anime or "Amerime" shown in TV series like Avatar, games like League of Legends and Overwatch. The best example of this style is the 2.5D mobile gacha games, where I think it began to distinguish itself from Japanese anime in the transition from traditional 2D to 2.5D. I would never think this was Japanese
Third, the wild success of this wave of Chinese animation - where as almost all previous attempts failed - is due to the emergence of new start-ups and unicorns in the Chinese entertainment industry, like Mihoyo, Papergames, Kuro, Hypergryph, Manjuu, and others, all led/founded by young CEOs and executives. It is importantly not a product of the dinosaur traditional animation industry in China that still dominates much of Chinese TV animation, and which are managed like state owned companies.
These observations once again high light the importance of start up culture & youth leadership to the future success of the Chinese entertainment & services economy.
First, Chinese animation is already popular globally, but via video games, rather than TV/movie format. People waiting for the grand renaissance of Chinese animation in TV/movie format are missing the forest for the trees. Youths today watch short format videos on Tik Tok and play mobile games like Genshin Impact. You shouldn't be expecting Chinese Dragon Ball Z.
Second, there is starting to be (or always was) a "Chinese anime style" that is clearly derived from Japanese anime but also distinct from it. It's similar to the American anime or "Amerime" shown in TV series like Avatar, games like League of Legends and Overwatch. The best example of this style is the 2.5D mobile gacha games, where I think it began to distinguish itself from Japanese anime in the transition from traditional 2D to 2.5D. I would never think this was Japanese
Third, the wild success of this wave of Chinese animation - where as almost all previous attempts failed - is due to the emergence of new start-ups and unicorns in the Chinese entertainment industry, like Mihoyo, Papergames, Kuro, Hypergryph, Manjuu, and others, all led/founded by young CEOs and executives. It is importantly not a product of the dinosaur traditional animation industry in China that still dominates much of Chinese TV animation, and which are managed like state owned companies.
These observations once again high light the importance of start up culture & youth leadership to the future success of the Chinese entertainment & services economy.
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