Chinese online anime pioneer finds new audience in Japan

Co-founder of U17 platform blazes path for China's animated films

20211207N Dong Zhiling

Facewhite founder Dong Zhiling stands with posters for "The Legend of Hei" and "White Snake." (Photo by Shuhei Yamada)

SHUHEI YAMADA, Nikkei Asia Tech chief editor

TOKYO -- A key figure in the rise of China's online animation industry is making a name for himself in Japan as well, with a movie distribution company bringing content from his home country to meet growing demand in the homeland of anime.

Japan "is the world's third-largest film market, so I thought it was a fitting place for a new challenge," Dong Zhiling said of his decision to set up Facewhite in Tokyo in 2019. The company's name is a literal translation of the characters in its Japanese name, which together mean "interesting" or "funny."

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