Chinese Donghua and Manhua Go Global — 2026-10-24
China's animation sector is undergoing a significant strategic shift as Bilibili drastically reduces its acquisition of new Japanese anime titles for the Fall 2026 season, signaling a pivot toward domestic production and global expansion. Simultaneously, the "AI short drama" export market continues to boom, with daily overseas spending estimated at $20 million USD, while major platforms like Crunchyroll continue to expand their live-action and global licensing portfolios.
Chinese Donghua and Manhua Go Global — 2026-10-24
Bilibili Halts New Japanese Anime Acquisitions for Fall 2026
In a move that has surprised the industry, Bilibili has reportedly purchased zero new Japanese anime titles for the Fall 2026 season. While the season features approximately 70 works scheduled from late September through December, Bilibili's "anime drama zone" remains notably quiet compared to previous years. This contraction in procurement suggests a strategic reallocation of resources, likely favoring the company's own domestic "Guochuang" (Chinese animation) productions and its recently launched international app, which aims to distribute Chinese donghua globally without ID verification barriers.
AI Short Drama Exports Burn $20 Million Daily
The trend of Chinese digital content going global is heavily fueled by the "AI short drama" sector. According to Liu Zun, director of the DataEye Research Institute, approximately $20 million USD is being spent daily on overseas short drama consumption. This massive capital burn, combined with recent stock market surges in related companies, has created a frenzy around "AI short drama going overseas," positioning it as a high-growth export engine alongside traditional donghua.
Crunchyroll Expands Beyond Animation with Sony Partnership
Crunchyroll, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, is entering the live-action anime adaptation space through a new initiative called "StoryWorks." This move is seen as a direct challenge to Netflix's dominance in the anime streaming market. By diversifying into live-action, Crunchyroll aims to solidify its position as the premier global hub for all things anime-related, not just animation.
Local view
Strategic Pivot Away from Japanese Content
Chinese media outlet What's Worth Buying (Smzdm) highlights that the current season's viewing habits have shifted from "what to watch" to "where to watch," as Bilibili's lack of new Japanese acquisitions forces fans to look elsewhere. The outlet notes that this is the first time in recent history that the supply side, rather than user preference, is the primary constraint on viewing choices for Bilibili users.
Data on Export Spending
21st Century Business Herald reports that the AI short drama export sector is operating at a scale previously unseen in digital content exports. The outlet cites DataEye Research Institute data showing that the daily burn rate of $20 million USD is driven by both genuine consumer demand and speculative capital inflows, raising questions about the long-term sustainability of this "printing press" model for overseas revenue.
Context & numbers
- Market Size: The Chinese animation industry continues to grow, with recent data indicating the market size reached 380 billion yuan, supported by 780 million viewers.
- Box Office Success: As of May 2026, the Chinese animated feature Ne Zha 2 became the highest-grossing animated film of all time, earning $2.26 billion USD worldwide, displacing major American franchises.
- Global Anime Market: The global anime market is projected to surpass $35 billion in 2026, with Crunchyroll sitting at the center of most significant rights deals in the West.
On the radar
- Bilibili International App: The global relaunch of Bilibili's app, which removes the requirement for Chinese ID verification, is now fully operational and serving as a key channel for donghua exports.
- Crunchyroll Seasonal Titles: Crunchyroll continues to add major titles, including the final trailer releases for its biggest mystery series and new acquisitions like Super Cube, which is being marketed as a replacement for Solo Leveling.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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