Shanghai ACGN Day — celebrating Anime, Comics, Games and Novels or ACGN — opened in Shanghai's Yangpu district on May 10, marking the launch of the Shanghai ACGN Festival's first major event.

As a key part of both the Shanghai Shopping Festival and the Shanghai Summer International Consumption Season, the Shanghai ACGN Festival aims to engage the Generation Z audience — those born between mid- 1990s and early 2010s — and spotlight the growing influence of ACGN culture in the city.

During the opening event, Wang Zheng, co-founder of the rising animation studio Wonder Cat Animation, shared a number of keen insights into intellectual property development.

Wang explained how Wonder Cat Animation had built a full industrial chain by distributing intellectual property across platforms and developing animated films, live-action series, mobile games and merchandise.

The studio has even established a virtual filming base and is expanding into cultural tourism and VR, breaking traditional boundaries between media formats.

Wang also noted that the ACGN economy was becoming a dynamic force in urban commercial development. Gen Z consumers, he said, were willing to pay for stories that have accompanied their growth.

One standout ACGN hub in Yangpu district is the Bailian ZX Creative Centre on Siping Road.

This center features more than 60 brands, including global and national flagship brands. Visitors can explore fashion, books and beauty products and dine at themed restaurants and cafes — making it a social paradise for ACGN fans.

At the event, Shizuka Kurosaki, vice-president of Aniplex Inc — a subsidiary of Sony Music Group (Japan) — shared Aniplex's approach to global IP operations.

In China, the company focuses on personalized product planning and localized merchandise, rather than simply importing Japanese goods. Limited-edition items designed for Chinese consumers had helped increase emotional connection and brand loyalty, Kurosaki said.

She also emphasized the success of China-Japan collaborations. Chinese stories like The Founder of Diabolism have gained popularity in Japan, especially among female audiences. The Japanese version, featuring top voice actors and airing on Tokyo TV in prime time, has received widespread acclaim.

Moving forwards, Kurosaki said Aniplex planned to deepen its presence in China by working with more partners to create locally inspired IPs with global potential.

Source: Official WeChat account of Shanghai Yangpu Media Center at "shanghai-yangpu"