Shanghai gears up for inaugural International Animation Month

Guests pose for photo during the launch ceremony of the first-ever Shanghai Summer International Animation Month on Friday in Shanghai. The event will be held from July 4 to August 10. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn)

The first-ever Shanghai Summer International Animation Month will be held from July 4 to Aug 10, marking a major step in the city's bid to become a global center for the culture of animation, comics, games, and novels, or ACGN, Shanghai Media Group, or SMG, announced at a news conference on Friday.

The event will consist of three major well-known animation expos — CCG Expo, Bilibili World, and ChinaJoy. It will transform 15 commercial districts and iconic landmarks into hubs of creativity by offering immersive experiences, and organizers expected it to attract around one million visitors.

The event will showcase Shanghai's growing influence in the global animation industry while celebrating its rich heritage as the birthplace of Chinese animation. Highlights include the premiere of Nobody, a comedy animation of the acclaimed Yao-Chinese Folktales series, along with the fantasy animation Divine Love-Deep Blue, which debuts on July 5 in the Yangpu district.

The event will feature anime-themed city walk routes linking cultural landmarks like the Bund and Xuhui riverside. ChinaJoy will highlight the latest in smart entertainment hardware and AI-powered gaming innovations, while Bilibili World will cater to the platform's massive fan community.

International participants include industry leaders Disney, LEGO, and Bandai Namco, alongside renowned voice actors and animation directors.

"Shanghai is redefining the global animation landscape through this unprecedented collaboration," said SMG Vice-President Wang Jian'er. "We're not just hosting an event - we're creating a new model for cultural, technological, and commercial integration in the ACGN industry."