Chinese Donghua and Manhua Go Global — 2026-09-09
Bilibili's global expansion continues to reshape the international animation landscape, with new analyses highlighting its strategic shift away from traditional ID verification to capture Western Gen Z audiences. Meanwhile, domestic Chinese platforms are pivoting their autumn lineups, with Bilibili reportedly pausing the acquisition of Japanese anime in favor of bolstering its own original content and donghua slate.
Chinese Donghua and Manhua Go Global — 2026-09-09
Bilibili’s Global Strategy and Domestic Pivot
Recent coverage from Memeburn and BestStartup Asia highlights that Bilibili’s August relaunch of its international app has removed passport verification barriers, aiming to compete directly with YouTube and Crunchyroll for global users. This move is coupled with a significant internal strategy shift reported by Smzdm: Bilibili has reportedly stopped purchasing Japanese anime rights for nearly a year, focusing resources on its autumn 2026 donghua lineup. The platform's domestic autumn season features over 90 new titles, with promotional PVs for series like Dragon Ball Super: Beerus (via fan subs) and original Chinese titles generating hundreds of thousands of views within days, signaling a strong pivot toward owned IP.
Western Media Re-evaluates Donghua Quality
Game Rant published an article titled "8 Best Chinese Anime Better Than Anything From Japan in the Last 10 Years," reflecting a growing trend in Western media to explicitly compare donghua favorably against Japanese anime. This sentiment aligns with recent licensing trends where titles like Full-Time Magister and Swallowed Star have found dedicated audiences on Crunchyroll and Netflix, challenging the long-held assumption that Japanese animation holds an unassailable quality lead.
Crunchyroll’s Licensing and Production Challenges
While Crunchyroll remains a key outlet for Chinese animation, reports indicate production issues are affecting some acquired titles. A Screen Rant report notes that Release That Witch, a Chinese isekai adaptation, faces potential cancellation due to production difficulties, highlighting the risks involved in licensing and co-producing high-volume donghua for Western audiences. Despite this, Crunchyroll continues to expand its footprint, recently announcing its presence at Brand Licensing Europe 2026 with a diverse lineup that includes returning fan favorites and new series, though specific new donghua acquisitions were not detailed in the immediate press release.
Local view
Local Chinese media outlets like Smzdm (What’s Worth Buying) are closely analyzing the economic implications of Bilibili’s content strategy. The outlet notes that with Bilibili halting Japanese anime purchases, users are questioning where to watch upcoming fall seasons and whether membership renewals remain worthwhile. The article points out that while fan-subbed PVs for major franchises still garner attention, the official focus is now heavily skewed toward domestic productions like Renegade Immortal (Xian Ni) Season 2 on Tencent Video and various Bilibili originals, indicating a consolidation of the "Guochuang" (Chinese Original) market.
Context & numbers
The Chinese animation industry continues to show robust financial health, with market size estimates reaching 457.3 billion yuan in 2022 and streaming revenue hitting 160 billion CNY in 2023, representing a 25% year-on-year growth. China’s animation exports were valued at $1.8 billion in 2022, with the U.S., Japan, and Southeast Asia as key markets. These figures underscore the economic imperative behind Bilibili’s global expansion and the aggressive content slates from Tencent and iQIYI.
On the radar
- Autumn 2026 Donghua Slate: Over 90 titles are scheduled for release in the October 2026 season, with major platforms like Bilibili and Tencent Video finalizing their lineups. Viewers are advised to check specific platform availability as the split between exclusive originals and licensed content shifts.
- Wan Shu Bu Hou Pei Lang Traction: The xianxia series Wan Shu Bu Hou Pei Lang has completed its digital release and is generating significant traction on streaming platforms, according to World Today News, potentially marking it as a breakout hit for late 2026.
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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