Press Releases

The 22nd China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF) - the International Animation & Game Business Conference (iABC) was successfully held in Hangzhou from June 16 to 17. Thousands of industry leaders, scholars, college representatives, executives of leading companies, and professionals from industry organisations across more than 20 countries and regions gathered together. Under the theme of "Integration, Co-creation, Globalisation - A New Ecosystem for the Animation Industry," the conference brought together diverse perspectives on technology empowerment, industry-education integration, capital connectivity, and international collaboration. Participants explored the development of a full-value-chain ecosystem covering creative incubation, IP commercialisation, and global distribution, while examining how deeper integration and open collaboration can reshape the industry landscape and unlock new growth opportunities. iABC is emerging as a key engine and influential platform driving the high-quality development and global expansion of the animation and game industry. 

This year’s iABC has “Resource Gathering, Industry-Oriented, Promote Overseas Distribution” as its core goal. With this goal, it organised 15 advanced themed events, including dedicated showcases by enterprises from Moscow and other regions of Russia; the “Digital Intelligence for the Future - AI-Powered Pan-Animation Industry Exchange”; the Industry-Education Integration Conference hosted by the New Animation Research Group of Teaching Advisory Committee for Art and Design Programs in Vocational Colleges under the Ministry of Education; the One-YouTube: 2026 Google AIDC (Drama & Comic) Ecosystem Summit - Hangzhou (Closed-Door Session); the DOUJU AI Global Film and TV Creation Competition Launch; the Animation Investment and Pitching Conference; the “Night of Chinese Animation” Gala Dinner; as well as dedicated matchmaking rooms for the Hong Kong delegation, Russian enterprises, and Moscow-based enterprises. Through these events, iABC aims to build a global hub for exchange, collaboration, and resource connectivity across the animation and game industry, bringing together technology empowerment, industry-education integration, and international business cooperation.

According to preliminary statistics, this year’s activities attracted 827 enterprises and organisations and 1217 professionals from more than 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Russia, Korea, France, Turkey, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan. A total of 4,874 participants attended the 15 on-site themed activities, which facilitated 1,511 professional business meetings. The events resulted in 316 intended cooperation projects, with the proposed transaction value reaching RMB 573 million.

Digital Intelligence Drives New Innovation: Shaping the Future of the AIGC Industry

The deep integration of AI technology and the pan animation industry is one of the key topics of this year’s conference. Through events such as the Pan Animation Industry Exchange Session and DOUJU AI Interactive Film and Television Global Strategic Cooperation Meeting, iABC comprehensively showcased the impact of digital intelligence technology on the pan animation industry. 

In “Digital Intelligence & Future—Pan AI Animation Industry Exchange Session”, the development of the industry’s first National Occupational Standard for AI-generated Animation Producers was officially announced. This marks the standardisation of professional certification for AIGC-related occupations and provides an authoritative framework for talent development in the industry. In this session, new tools were introduced as well; the AI model specially designed for animation scripts, Toodrama, which empowers the full chain of creative production, was officially launched. At the conference, the AIGC Co-Creation Intellectual Property Protection Initiative, which provides a shared industry understanding and action guidelines, was also signed. 

Linking the World: Building an Open Ecosystem for Shared Success

Internationalisation is a long-term strategic direction of iABC. Focusing on “deepening regional cooperation, expanding emerging markets, innovating overseas distribution models”, this year’s conference aims to advance China’s and the global animation industries from project-based collaboration toward deeper, institutionalised, and platform-based win-win partnerships.

The Russia roadshow continued to advance in depth. Dedicated project presentation sessions for enterprises from Moscow and other regions of Russia were successfully held. The Russian Export Center and Moscow Export Center, together with 23 Russian animation companies, including Soyuzmultfilm and CTC Media, organised specialised project showcases and matchmaking sessions for Russian and Moscow enterprises. These events further explored cooperation opportunities between China and Russia in co-production, distribution, and IP adaptation.

The Hong Kong delegation gave an incredible energy burst. Cooperating with 16 Hong Kong enterprises and covering multiple areas including animation, games, and trendy products, Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association showcased the latest, trendiest, and most creative content and products. They actively sought in-depth communication and cooperation opportunities, giving fresh impetus to the coordinated development of the animation industry in the Greater Bay Area. 

The global footprint continues to expand. At this year’s conference, Zoland Animation, Evolut Consulting, and MBA FILMS officially signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). At the same time, a strategic cooperation agreement was also signed between Zoland-Tikka Animation Chinese Language School, a Chinese overseas distribution platform run by Zoland Animation, and various partners from Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Germany, Canada, and Vietnam, developing a new pathway for the overseas distribution of Chinese culture. 

High-quality international resources and diverse overseas distribution platforms attracted numerous domestic and overseas animation and game companies, universities and institutions. The conference witnessed enthusiastic discussions, efficient business matchmaking, and vibrant trade activities. 

Industry-Education Integration: A New Fertile Ground for Talent Development

 “Intelligence-Painted Animation • A New Trip of Digital Intelligence Overseas Distribution: Empowering Brands, Integrating Industry with Education, Promoting Overseas Distribution”: the Conference of Industry-Education Integration hosted by the New Animation Research Group, Teaching Advisory Committee for Art and Design Programs in Vocational Colleges under the Ministry of Education, is one of the key events this year. Representatives from various colleges and enterprises discussed the new pathway for industry-education integration and opportunities for the overseas distribution of digital culture. 

Laiyuan Zhang, the Secretary-General of the Teaching Advisory Committee for Art and Design Programs in Vocational Colleges under the Ministry of Education, proposed the conception of “dual-end synergy”. He highlighted that, on the education side, institutions should move further upstream to cultivate talent capable of providing high-quality original content for intelligent models; meanwhile, enterprises should extend downstream by strengthening the innovative development of AI application scenarios. At the conference, the Education Union of New Animation High-Skilled Talents Clusters was officially established. Leading enterprises represented by Zoland Animation and Qwen intensively released various landmark industry-education integration projects. Simultaneously, “Top 50 Vocational Education Animation” Enterprise Recognition Award Winners and Nominees were also released. Through these coordinated initiatives, a new framework for industry-education integration is being developed, continuously providing the animation industry with a new generation of professionals equipped for digital-intelligent transformation and global expansion.

The Business Hub: Enhancing the Network of Industry Cooperation and Transactions

iABC’s key one-on-one business matchmaking sessions created a lively and productive atmosphere. Through a mutual appointment system, enterprises can be precisely matched to their business and cooperation needs. In brief, effective business matchmaking has always been the core value of iABC. More than 100 leading enterprises, including CCTV Animation Group, Golden Eagle Cartoon, iQiyi, Youku, Tencent, and Bilibili, actively participated in this session. According to preliminary statistics, the events resulted in more than 700 meetings and more than 200 intended cooperation projects, with the proposed transaction value reaching beyond 41 million RMB. 

As an innovation and incubation engine at the forefront of the industry chain, the Animation Investment and Pitching Conference achieved impressive results. This conference received more than 100 original animation works, with more than ten projects including Stellar Awakening, Stellar Reordering, Hiya: We Love the World, and Carve! Carve out a Universe entered the roadshow, and four works stood out to win awards, including the “Investment Pitch Star Award” and the “Most Popular Award.” This event facilitated more than 60 match-ups, which covered key areas such as IP incubation, technical cooperation, and distribution channels, effectively drove project implementation and the integration of industry chain resources, and brought new energy to the innovation and upgrading of the animation industry. 

iABC2026 breaks down the industry boundary through “integration”, reshapes collaboration models through “co-creation”, and expands market opportunities through “globalisation”. At iABC2026, technology, culture, capital, talents and international network form a dynamic constellation within the same ecosystem, collectively shaping a new landscape for the animation industry. With great hope, we look forward to exploring the infinite potential of the animation industry and commencing a new chapter of global cooperation of animation and game industries.  

The 22nd China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF) - the International Animation & Game Business Conference (iABC) concluded successfully. 

We sincerely appreciate the tremendous support from animation and game professionals around the world.

We look forward to welcoming you next year.