Tokyo's pop culture hub, Akihabara, is set to welcome a vibrant showcase from south China. On October 10, Guangdong will present the "New Dimensions of Guangdong Animation and Trendy Toys Exhibition" at Belle Salle Akihabara.
Set against the backdrop of the 2025 China-Japan-ROK Year of Cultural Exchange, the event highlights the enduring collaboration and friendship between China and Japan in the animation industry. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore works from both Chinese and Japanese artists, celebrating their creative talents.
New Dimensions of Guangdong Animation and Trendy Toys Exhibition
The exhibition will feature three themed sections—Origins, Connections, and Resonance. Attendees can expect to see over 50 masterpieces by renowned animators, including original manuscripts from Havoc in Heaven, The Proud General, Astro Boy, and Castle in the Sky, alongside works by Jin Cheng, Lin Dihuan, and Yoneyama Mai. The display will showcase the evolution of Chinese animation, the history of collaboration between the Chinese and Japanese animation industries, and the significant contributions of Guangdong animators, from traditional hand-painted techniques to digital creations and collectible toy designs.
A highlight of the exhibition will be the "Trendy Toy" section, featuring nearly 100 creative products from Guangdong's leading studios and brands, including Fantawild’s Boonie Bears, Winsing's GG Bond, Alpha Group's Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, UBTECH’s Wukong Robot, and ToyCity's Laura. These designs blend Chinese folklore with contemporary aesthetics, reflecting Guangdong’s role as both a manufacturing hub and a center of youth creativity.
Interactive zones will allow visitors to take photos with cosplayers portraying characters like Wukong from Black Myth and Ne Zha. Additionally, attendees can participate in the "See You in Guangdong: China-Japan Youth Creative Workshop," where they can build creative works using Chinese-style building blocks and receive gifts for their participation.
Works on display
More than 200 participants from China and Japan are expected, including key figures from the animation and art industries. Confirmed guests include:
Jin Cheng, Chairman of the Guangdong Cartoonists Association
Lin Dihuan, comic artist and associate professor at Sun Yat-sen University
Takayuki Matsutani, Chairman of Tezuka Productions
Machiko Satonaka, President of the Japan Cartoonists Association
MitsuguSekiguchi, former Creative Director at Sanrio
Yoneyama Mai, Japanese illustrator and animator
A special dialogue titled "Chinese and Japanese Animation and Art Toy Masters’ Guangdong Discover" will provide a platform for leading artists from both countries to share experiences and discuss future collaborations.
The exhibition will open on October 10 at Belle Salle Akihabara, offering audiences a first look at the creativity, design, and cultural exchange in Chinese and Japanese animation, while highlighting the innovative works that are shaping the next generation of animators and trendy toy makers.
Reporter | Li Muzi
Script | Li Muzi
Video Footage | Guangdong Cartoonists Association
Video Editor | Guo Hongda
Poster | Guo Hongda
Photo | South
Editor | Hu Nan, James Campion, Shen He
