The world of entertainment is constantly evolving, and in
the realm of manga/comics, China is
emerging as a formidable competitor to Japan. Manhua app “Kuaikan
Comics” has achieved rapid growth by distributing locally produced comics, thus
challenging the traditionally unbreakable dominance of Japanese manga. This
meteoric rise raises the question: is the status that Japanese manga has
maintained for years in danger?
Founded by Anni Chen, an iconic figure of China's
post-90s generation, the story of Kuaikan Comics is a true modern fairy tale. Raised
in a modest family, Chen began her entrepreneurial journey with a borrowed
tablet and unwavering determination. Despite financial challenges and
lack of technical experience, Chen managed to launch the app in 2014, and it
has seen phenomenal growth since then.
What sets Kuaikan Comics apart is its innovative approach to
content delivery. In addition to traditional webtoons, the application
offers mini-animations that complement the stories, attracting a wide range of
audiences, especially the “lazy generation” who prefers to consume content on
their smartphones in a comfortable way. Additionally, the inclusion of
live streaming features has allowed for greater interaction between creators
and fans, thus strengthening the community around the app.
This success has not gone unnoticed by investors, with the
company raising more than $200 million in funding in 2021, accelerating its
international expansion. Additionally, Kuaikan Comics has focused on
improving social benefits for authors, such as health insurance and health screenings,
which has helped attract talent and foster a culture of creativity.
The rapid development of Chinese comics poses a significant
challenge to Japanese manga, which has maintained a dominant position in the
industry for decades. With a population of 1.4 billion, China has a
vast reservoir of creative talent and a potentially huge user base. Furthermore,
the improvement in the quality of Chinese webtoons and the accelerated
development of AI-based image generation technology could further boost the growth
of this industry.
Tatsuya Asano, a Japanese author who has moved to China,
comments on the increasing competition: “ The Japanese think that
Japanese mangas are the most interesting in the world, but the improvement in
the quality of Chinese webtoons is notable. With this evolution in mind, it is
possible that the next “One Piece” of the digital age will not be born in
Japan, but abroad .
In conclusion, the rise of Chinese comics represents a
real threat to the status that Japanese manga has maintained for so long. With
its innovative approach, exponential growth and commitment to continuous
improvement, China is demonstrating that it is ready to compete on the global
entertainment stage.
Source: Yahoo!News Japan
