NATION'S OWN TOY STORY SET FOR BLOCKBUSTER RUN

Fresh characters, dynamic strategies help domestic companies' drive into overseas markets

Collectible toys have transformed from a niche hobby to a dynamic multibillion-dollar sector, with Chinese companies making rapid inroads into an industry traditionally dominated by Japanese and United States companies.

The domestic art toy sector has experienced a compound annual growth rate of 33 percent in recent years, according to the Annual Report on China's Pop Toy and Animation&Comic Industries 2024, released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the China Animation Association.

The market is expected to continue expanding rapidly, the report said, with projected annual growth rate exceeding 20 percent. By 2026, its production value is forecast to reach 110.1 billion yuan ($15.3 billion).