CyberAgent Teams Up with Weibo: Powerhouse Japan-China Social Media Partnership Unveiled
Discover how CyberAgent's strategic marketing collaborations fuel its global anime expansion and unlock new opportunities worldwide.
CyberAgent Expands Anime Global Presence Through Weibo Partnership
CyberAgent has announced a new marketing collaboration with Weibo, China's largest social media platform, as part of its global expansion strategy for anime.
What The Partnership Entails
- Official Weibo Accounts: CyberAgent's Anime & IP Division will launch official accounts for its anime titles on Weibo.
- Anime Page on Weibo Topics: A dedicated page will gather the latest anime-related discussions.
- Interactive Message Boards: Fans can interact, participate in joint campaigns, and buy merchandise.
- Offline Collaborations: The company plans to participate in events like Weibo ACG World and the Weibo Cultural Exchange Night awards.
- Special Features: Development of features such as character birthday events, quizzes, and digital goods tailored for anime fans on Weibo.
Weibo's Audience and Relevance
- Over 590 million monthly active users as of 2024.
- More than 320 million interested in animation, comics, and games.
- Hosts over 1,100 official accounts related to anime globally and domestically.
- Generates over 100,000 conversations monthly about anime topics.
CyberAgent's Recent Initiatives
- New Division: Launched its Anime & IP Business Division in February 2024 to produce and manage anime and related merchandise.
- Global Marketing: Relaunched CyberAgent America, Inc., focusing on international marketing and local communication.
- New Studio: Recently established CA Soa, led by ex-Sunrise producer Masakazu Ogawa, to create high-quality anime for worldwide audiences.
Other Major Moves
- Cygames Division: Known for titles like Rage of Bahamut and Granblue Fantasy, it established an anime division in 2015 and a subsidiary, Cygames Pictures, in 2016.
- Anime Fund: CyberAgent and Cygames created the CA-Cygames Anime Fund in 2017 to invest in anime productions, including hits like Zombie Land Saga and Hinomaru Zumō.
- Strategic Alliance: In 2021, Kadokawa Corporation formed a capital alliance with CyberAgent and Sony to expand IP worldwide.
- Acquisitions: CyberAgent acquired stage production company Nelke Planning in 2023 and Nitrophlus in 2024 to strengthen its creative resources.
Sources
- CyberAgent News
- Anime! Anime! (Kōtarō Nakase)
Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, owns a majority stake in Anime News Network, LLC. Several companies mentioned are part of the Kadokawa Group.