EOne to open Peppa Pig theme park in China by 2019

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Entertainment One (eOne), the copyright holder of the popular UK animated television show Peppa Pig, announced that it planned to open a new theme park in China by 2019 alongside launching a three-year Peppa Pig touring performance.

The company will cooperate with a Guangzhou-based animation and toy company Alpha Group Co to further expand its Chinese market and improve the popularity of the brand in the country.

Peppa Pig./CGTN Screenshot

Having benefited from the push by the Chinese market, Peppa Pig has brought high profits to its copyright holder, earning one billion US dollars each year. The sales revenue of its copyright and related products in China grew 700 percent in the first half of 2017.

Andrew Carley, executive vice-president of eOne, told the Beijing Morning Post that they had seen the great potential of the Chinese market and are preparing to launch a series of new toys and products to further strengthen their status in China. He added that they are making business plans to prepare for the coming Year of the Pig in 2019.

Debuted on China Central Television in 2015, the country’s national broadcaster, the animated show soon became popular among Chinese children. So far, the cartoon has been streamed more than 45 billion times on Chinese online streaming platforms Youku, iQiyi and Tudou.

Peppa Pig meme saying "I won't eat anything because I'm losing weight."./Photo via Weibo

Boosted by Chinese social media, Peppa Pig has become popular online, being made into various cute emojis and being featured in many fun videos.

Some Chinese netizens have even dubbed clips of Peppa Pig with different Chinese regional accents, something else that has been popular over social media.

UNIQLO collaborated with Peppa Pig. /CGTN Screenshot from Weibo

Some famous brands have also recognized the commercial value of Peppa Pig and sought cooperation. UNIQLO, a Japanese clothing retailer, collaborated with Peppa Pig and launched a limited edition of T-shirts, which soon became popular among young people in China.

Peppa Pig, the UK preschool animated TV series, which tells the stories of Peppa and her family, has been broadcasted in more than 180 territories around the world in more than 40 different languages.