NetEase And Disney China Will Cooperate In Comics IP
NetEase And Disney China Will Cooperate In Comics IP
NetEase and Disney China will cooperate in comics IP
Alice Dong
Marvel will work together with Beijing-based company NetEase Inc. (网易, NASDAQ: NTES) to create its first-ever Chinese comic superhero. It is a landmark decision in the cooperation between an American comic IP owner and a Chinese company.
On July 7th, the Disney-owned company, Marvel, which has created iconic superheroes like Spiderman and Captain America, and the Chinese company NetEase, signed a cooperation agreement which was jointly announced by NetEase Comics and Disney China at the 13th China International Comics and Games Expo in 2017 (2017 CCG Expo).
This demonstrates cross-border IP creation and utilisation in the field of comic works and characters. Movies based on Marvel comics have earned over 8 billion yuan ($1.18 billion) in China so far. This time, the cooperation will be divided into 3 main categories: the introduction of 12 of Marvel’s comic works into Mainland China, the creation of a Chinese superhero to join the universe of Marvel; and cooperation in marketing promotion.
The first level is copyright licensing
Marvel has authorised NetEase to release 12 copies of its comic stories online in China under the cooperation agreement, including: Civil War I, Civil War II: The Oath, Captain America: Steve Rogers, The Invincible Iron Man, The Spectacular Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers, The Inhumans: Karnak, and Uncanny Inhumans. It is said that this is the very first time that Marvel’s genuine comics have landed on a Chinese digital comic platform.
Until now, only Civil War I has been available on NetEase Comics. The other 11 comics will be gradually published on the NetEase website.
The second level is copyright joint creation
NetEase Comics and Disney will jointly create the first ever superhero comic book with a Chinese hero as the lead character. It is said that this leading character will have a role incorporating a strong contemporary sense that is created by Chinese cartoonists and writers.
Interesting and fascinating ideas are being sparked in the course of this joint creation of a Chinese superhero, which shows the advancements in copyright strategy cooperation, as remarked upon by Mr. Ding Lei, CEO of NetEase.
The third level is IP utilisation
In addition to copyright cooperation and co-production of comic hero works, the two parties will further cooperate in marketing promotion.
According to NetEase Inc., they will work with Disney Entertainment Media to improve resource integration; to expand cooperation in multiple media such as film, television, games, etc.; to jointly boost the creation, development, and promotion of high-quality IP works; and to promote the flourishing of the domestic animation and game entertainment industry.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that Tencent Comics gained access to DC Entertainment comic characters not long ago through the licensing of ten comics, including Wonder Woman.
With the agreement between NetEase comics and Disney, it is possible that comics become the next field of competition in IP licensing and cooperation.
The cooperation between western comic giants and Chinese companies is also foreseen to increase greatly in the near future.
Images from NetEase official Weblog and NetEase Comics wesite: https://manhua.163.com/
