TOKYO, March 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — AnimeJapan 2025, Japan’s premier animation convention, took place from March 22 to 23 at Tokyo Big Sight, attracting leading international animation studios, game developers, and streaming services. Bilibili, making a notable return since its debut in 2019, was the sole Chinese exhibitor of animation content. The platform captivated attendees with an extensive showcase of popular intellectual properties, including To Be Hero X and San Guo:Mou Ding Tian Xia , complemented by vibrant stage performances that highlighted its diverse and rich content offerings.
At AnimeJapan 2025, Bilibili showcased several exclusive events including BW (Bilibili World) and BML (Bilibili Macro Link), China’s largest live ACGN (Anime, Comics, Games, and Novels) concert.
BW, China’s leading in-person ACGN event, has been a major attraction since its inception in 2017, attracting a wide range of global ACGN companies and enthusiasts every summer. In 2024, BW hosted over 700 exhibitors from around the world and welcomed an estimated 270,000 attendees over three days, solidifying its status as one of the most significant cultural events in the Chinese ACGN scene.
In contrast, BML (Bilibili Macro Link) stands out as China’s most ACGN-focused live concert. Held annually for 12 years, BML has showcased numerous international guests, further expanding its global influence. By 2024, the event had amassed over 170,000 followers, reinforcing its status as a cornerstone of the ACGN community.
Both BW and BML are gearing up for their 2025 iterations, with events scheduled for July.
Bilibili showcased its flagship IP, The Bilibili New Year’s Eve Gala. The event, renowned for its creative fusion of classic film, animation, and gaming IPs grounded in symphonic music, has earned a reputation as the New Year’s Eve gala that resonates most with Chinese youth. A must-watch for young audiences in China, the 2024 simulcast of the event reached a peak viewership of 346 million.
Alongside the gala, Bilibili also unveiled a lineup of proprietary content including A Record of a Mortal’s Journey to Immortality, The Legend of Princess Chang Ge, Forever 22! Bilibili Graduation Concert, and Bilibili New Year’s Celebration.
Bilibili’s popular game San Guo:Mou Ding Tian Xia also captured significant attention in Japan. At the exhibition, several gamers dressed in cosplay as iconic characters from Three Kingdoms lore, such as Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, posed for photos and engaged with fans at the Bilibili booth.
At a recent stage performance, On the one hand, Bilibili invited Mashiro Kanon and other eight most popular VUPs to meet with Japanese fans, and on the other hand, Bilibili teamed up with notable content creators Hun Yuan Rysn and Zi Yan – Xiaoxian Zi to highlight Chinese cultural heritage through traditional music and dance. Hun Yuan Rysn’s rendition of ‘The Hero’s Song’ on the suona—a traditional Chinese wind instrument—wooed the international crowd. The performance was met with enthusiastic applause, with fans eagerly capturing the moment with their cameras, demonstrating its broad appeal to the international audience.
Additionally, Bilibili hosted a panel featuring renowned Japanese voice actors Sasaki Riko, Megumi Han, Umehara Yuichiro and Hanazawa Kana, as well as HAOLINERS Animation founder and Bilibili Animation Production Center general manager Li Haoling, who is also a prominent Chinese animation director. They engaged in interactive stage discussions on the popular Chinese animated series Ringing Fate and Don’t Give Up, sharing behind-the-scenes stories with overseas fans.
The panel with voice actors Umehara Yuichiro, Hanazawa Kana, and animation director Li Haoling drew a large crowd of anime fans, capturing their interest with engaging discussions.
Notably, To Be Hero X, another series by Li Haoling, was one of the most anticipated animated series at AnimeJapan 2025. Co-produced by Bilibili and Aniplex, and originally created by director Li Haoling, the series will debut worldwide on April 6, with subsequent episodes airing weekly on Bilibili, Fuji TV, and Crunchyroll. At the exhibition, fans eagerly gathered at Aniplex’s dedicated booth for ‘To Be Hero X,’ participating in stage interactions with famed Japanese voice actors Hanae Natsuki, Sakura Ayane, and Shimazaki Nobunaga, along with other celebrated figures in the industry.
Despite the ever-changing global content landscape, Bilibili continues its commitment to producing high-quality ACGN content. As China’s largest producer of original animation and the premier broadcaster of Japanese anime in the country, Bilibili distributes over 70 animation titles internationally. Looking ahead, Bilibili is committed to expanding the global reach of its top-tier productions, partnering with leading animation firms and platforms around the world to bring outstanding content to a global audience.
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SOURCE Bilibili Inc.
