It has been announced that CyberAgent, within its Anime & IP Business Division, has formed a marketing partnership with “Weibo (Shinatou Ippou),” China’s largest social media platform operated by Weibo Corporation. This collaboration aims to bolster the global expansion of anime projects spearheaded by CyberAgent.
CyberAgent’s Push for Global Anime Reach
CyberAgent established its Anime & IP Business Division in February 2024. This division consolidates IP development, anime planning and production, advertising and promotion functions, as well as merchandise production and merchandising capabilities. It is actively pursuing comprehensive business strategies with a keen eye on the global market.
Furthermore, to intensify its anime marketing efforts overseas, CyberAgent America, Inc. has relaunched under a new structure. This entity focuses on designing domestic and international marketing strategies and executing localized communication plans and promotions tailored for a worldwide audience.
Weibo: China’s Massive Social Media Hub
“Weibo” commenced operations in August 2009 and, as of the end of 2024, boasts over 590 million monthly active users, making it the largest social media platform in China. Within this platform, more than 320 million users have a strong interest in two-dimensional culture, including anime, manga, and games.
With over 1,100 official accounts for domestic and international anime IPs and monthly conversation volumes exceeding 100,000, Weibo serves as a central hub for anime, comic, and manga culture in China, facilitating vibrant information exchange and community interaction.
Expanding Anime’s Presence in China: What the Partnership Means
This partnership is forged to advance anime’s presence in China, driving the joint development of marketing, promotion, and platform features that will help users discover new anime titles. It aims to create opportunities for Chinese users to enjoy anime titles simultaneously with Japan from multiple perspectives.
Specific initiatives include the opening of official accounts on Weibo for anime titles and CyberAgent’s Anime & IP Business Division, the creation of special anime pages within “Ippou Wadai (Weibo Topic)” which aggregates the latest trending topics on Weibo, the establishment of dedicated message boards for specific titles where users can interact, merchandise sales, and joint campaign planning.
Looking Ahead: Events and New Features
Collaborations are also planned for offline events hosted by Weibo, such as “Weibo ACG World” and “Ippou Bunka Gouryuu Night.” These efforts are poised to deploy marketing and promotions that will increase the recognition of Japanese anime across Asia.
Moreover, joint development of anime and manga-specific features on Weibo is anticipated. This includes character birthday events, quiz initiatives, and the provision of digital merchandise. There is strong expectation for the proactive global expansion of Japanese anime, particularly focusing on China.
■ New Wave Overview
Name: Weibo (Ueiboo, Weibo Corporation)
Representative: Ou Kouhi (CEO)
Location: Haidian New District, Beijing, China
Establishment Date: April 17, 2014
Business Activities: Operation of internet media services
《Nakase Koutarou》
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