Bilibili is one of the most popular sites for ACG fans. (Photo : Tumblr)
Come 2016, experts claim that the country's Animation-Comic-Game (ACG) industry is set to boom as the divide between the industry's 2D world and today's mainstream 3D culture is now slowly being broken down.
This blurring of borders has been recently proven as television shows who received lukewarm reception in mainstream media became popular on ACG-rich websites such as acfun.tv and bilibili.com.
For instance, Hunan TV's "Run for Time," an outdoor reality show featuring singing groups, has a huge following on Bilibili though its TV viewership figures have fallen sharply.
Other shows like TV dramas have also experienced the same. Though these programs, like "The Red," "New Detective" and "Legend of Southwest Dance," are titles that mainstream audiences are unaware of, they have garnered high ratings on the mentioned ACG websites.
Experts said that what made these unpopular programs popular for ACG fans is the demographics of the website: netizens between 15 and 22 years old who tend to value logical plotlines and well-written stories.
Analysts added that in the future, more entertainment firms--traditional and Web-based--will delve into the AGC realm and regard it as a major source of content. In fact, nine online series based on ACG works are expected to hit major streaming sites like iQiyi and Youku, according to the production schedules of several studios.
Some even predict that next year will serve as the year ACG-based series and programs will take off.
Additionally, experts say that the perception of animated works being pieces not only meant to entertain children but also to inspire and enlighten older audiences has also helped put the spotlight on the ACG culture. A good example of this is the hit animated film, "Monkey King: Hero Is Back."
Recent iResearch figures show that in 2014, the number of ACG fans in China grew by 68 percent to 149 million. This year, the statistic is expected to hit 219 million.
