Ali
Ali is a Chinese domestic animation brand that develops products such as picture books, animations, and other peripheral products.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor | €0.0 | round |
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
JPY10.0m | Series B | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
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Beijing Dream Castle Culture Co., Ltd., established in December 2006, is an intellectual property (IP) management company centered on the creation and commercialization of original cartoon characters. The company was founded by Xu Han, also known as "Hans," who created the company's principal IP, Ali the Fox, while he was a student at Tsinghua University's School of Fine Arts. The character, a red fox in white pants, first appeared online in 2006 through stories and emoticons, quickly gaining a substantial following for its warm, fairytale-like narratives.
The firm's business model revolves around developing and monetizing its portfolio of characters, which includes Ali the Fox, Luo Xiaohei Cat, and others. Revenue is generated through a multi-pronged strategy that encompasses the publication of comic books, the creation of animated series, brand licensing, and the direct sale of merchandise. This integrated industrial chain allows the company to control the character's development from content creation to consumer products. In August 2019, Dream Castle was acquired by Sunac China Holdings, a move intended to further expand the reach and vitality of its IPs.
Dream Castle's core product is its collection of character IPs, with Ali the Fox being the most prominent. This character has been developed across various media, including millions of picture books sold, animated shorts, and a planned feature film. The company was a pioneer in using its characters for emoticons on platforms like WeChat, which significantly broadened their audience. The product line is extensive, with over 2,000 SKUs covering toys, home goods, apparel, and stationery. The company serves a broad consumer market, primarily in China, that is attracted to character-driven stories and merchandise. Looking forward, the company plans to increase its output of animated content and books while also expanding its offline presence through themed tea shops and entertainment spaces.
Keywords: Beijing Dream Castle Culture, Ali the Fox, Xu Han, intellectual property management, character licensing, Chinese animation, cartoon characters, brand licensing, merchandise, Luo Xiaohei, Sunac Culture, emoticons, picture books, animation studio, content creation, consumer products, IP monetization, themed entertainment
