COMICUP 32 fuels a new wave of Chinese-style original creative boom during May Day holiday

The 32nd COMICUP Convention (CP32) successfully concluded on May 5 at the Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Center. Centered on Chinese-style original creations and science fiction themes, this year's event collaborated with popular gaming IPs to create a diverse cultural and creative exchange platform.

The exhibition reached an unprecedented scale, covering a total area of 300,000 square meters with more than 10,000 booths and over 390 themed sections, fully encompassing key sectors of ACG culture such as animation, gaming and online literature. Over the four-day event during the May Day holiday, total attendance exceeded 300,000 visits, with more than 90% of attendees coming from outside Hangzhou. It is estimated that the convention directly generated over 1 billion yuan (approximately $147 million) in combined cultural, commercial and tourism-related consumption, highlighting the strong economic impact of convention-driven industries.

This year's event also placed emphasis on the preservation of traditional culture and the cultivation of emerging creative talent through a variety of themed exhibition areas. The intangible cultural heritage section showcased traditional crafts such as woodblock printing and Qiantang dough sculpture, blending heritage culture with contemporary ACG trends. Meanwhile, Science Fiction World magazine set up a dedicated submission zone where editors accepted manuscripts on-site and engaged directly with creators, offering young sci-fi writers an accessible platform for publication and industry networking.

A series of special exhibitions – including a Blades of the Guardians-themed art exhibition, a retrospective on "33 Years of Chinese Animation" and Chinese-style art showcases – traced the development and evolution of China's original creative industries. The fusion of traditional culture with cutting-edge creative technology vividly reflected the diverse artistic expression and inclusive aesthetics embraced by today's young creators.

More than just a large-scale cultural consumption event, CP32 has become a major incubator for China's original creative industries and a gathering platform for young artists. Rooted in creativity and passion, COMICUP originated in 2008 as a fan-driven exchange event initiated by the Fudan University Feidian Comic Club. Initially centered around student creators, it provided an offline platform for showcasing works, exchanging ideas, and connecting like-minded fans through fan art, original novels and creative merchandise – a vision that remains at the heart of the event today.

After more than a decade of growth, the CP convention series has become increasingly large-scale and professionalized. It continues to provide young creators with opportunities for exposure and collaboration while also connecting them with publishers, studios and commercial partners, supporting the professional development of emerging original artists. At the same time, it encourages China's ACG creative ecosystem to remain rooted in local culture and independent expression, continuously nurturing high-quality original works and promising new talent for the domestic market.

The growth of COMICUP also mirrors the broader rise of China's fan-created subculture into mainstream public recognition. Today, the convention enjoys strong institutional support, with local government departments coordinating transportation, security and public services throughout the event. Many exhibitors praised the event's well-organized support system, noting that staff assisted with transporting goods, security personnel proactively maintained venue cleanliness, crowd management remained orderly, food delivery services operated smoothly, and parking was provided free of charge throughout the convention.

For countless creators and ACG enthusiasts, COMICUP represents both passion and aspiration. It serves not only as a platform for audiences to experience high-quality cultural content but also as a stage where ordinary creators can realize their dreams and bring their works into the spotlight. Unlike traditional expos focused on end-user consumption, COMICUP extends beyond the downstream market, continuously supplying innovative ideas and emerging talent back into the broader creative industry chain. Its ongoing evolution reflects the rapid advancement of China's ACG ecosystem and original Chinese-style creative industries.