Chengdu hosts a major Sino-Japanese animation and comic industry forum, promoting global collaboration and cultural innovation through IP and creative exchange.
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| China and Japan unite at Chengdu’s animation salon to deepen creative collaboration, explore cultural IPs, and expand influence in global comic and animation markets. Image: NBD |
CHENGDU, China — April 20, 2025:
Chengdu has emerged as a key player in global animation and comic collaboration as the city hosted the International Salon on the Animation and Comic Industries on April 18, under the theme “Linking the World with Industrial Interaction.”
Organized by National Business Daily and the NBD Think Tank, the event brought together industry leaders, scholars, and creative professionals from China and Japan to explore new avenues of cooperation, innovation, and cultural exchange.
The forum follows the massive success of Nezha 2, a Chengdu-produced animated film that became a global hit during the 2025 Chinese Spring Festival, ranking among the top five highest-grossing films worldwide. This milestone has not only elevated Chinese animation on the world stage but also intensified interest in cross-border industry synergy.
During the salon, representatives from KADOKAWA Corporation, one of Japan’s most renowned cultural enterprises, proposed establishing a formal exchange mechanism between Chengdu and Japanese animation industries. Suggested initiatives include online and offline technical workshops, experience-sharing platforms, and co-creation opportunities to drive deeper engagement.
Chengdu-based animation studios showcased their achievements in TV series, comic book publishing, and gaming, crediting the city’s pro-business environment, supportive local policies, and efficient administrative services for their success.
Experts highlighted the wealth of local cultural resources, including the Ancient Shu Civilization, the Three Kingdoms era, and Tianfu Culture, as a strong foundation for developing globally appealing intellectual properties (IPs).
Professor Hiroaki Inoue of Kibi International University, a founding member of GAINAX and co-creator of the legendary Neon Genesis Evangelion, emphasized the importance of revitalizing traditional cultural IPs through modern storytelling. He underscored that integrating historical narratives and mythology into animation can both enrich content and serve as a bridge for international cultural communication.
Inoue added that aligning with global production and distribution models will allow local content to reach wider audiences, positioning cities like Chengdu as cultural innovation hubs with international impact.
The event’s project roadshows and roundtable discussions offered practical insights into collaboration opportunities, from co-production to transnational IP licensing.
As Chengdu aspires to become a world-class center for animation and comics, the salon reinforced its strategic role in shaping a globally integrated creative industry. The partnership between Chinese and Japanese creators signals a vibrant future for cross-cultural storytelling, bringing together heritage, technology, and imagination to captivate audiences around the world.