The success of Mihoyo’s Genshin Impact and Bilibili.com has taught Chinese investors a lesson that the market of anime, comic and video game – or what Chinese prefer to call “ACG” – is far larger than they previously thought.
That might be one of the reasons why officials and industry insiders extended the length of the sub-forum for panimation – or pan-animation – at the Financial Street Forum in Beijing, which concluded on November 10.
As a guest at the forum, Cen Yundong, deputy head of culture in Beijing’s Xicheng District, shared his personal thoughts about the ACG culture in an exclusive interview with CGTN.
He revealed that he finds the video game Call of Duty attractive, and he is also a fan of Kong Fu Panda.
“Panimation includes anime, manga and other sectors like movies, video games and esports,” he explained to CGTN, citing the global trend of industry convergence.
Cen said he understands people’s interest in the ACG culture. “In my personal view, panimation is an altitude, a lifestyle.”
Cen said the ACG culture covers almost the entire population and has big potential in the next decade, and that’s why the government in Xicheng District is helping enterprises and individuals create more ACG works.
The district just held the first China Anime Week in July and will also host the country’s first national center for anime IP rights protection.
“You can enjoy all the services within a small district,” he added.
With all the convenient services in place, Cen asked lovers of ACG culture around the world to come to Xicheng to feel the culture.