Core Insights - The 15th China International Animation and Comic Copyright Protection and Trade Expo concluded in Dongguan, showcasing over 2,000 animation and comic IPs from more than 40 countries, with a total intended cooperation amount reaching 1.56 billion yuan [1][4] - The popularity of trendy toys, or "潮玩," is attributed to their ability to tap into emotional consumption, primarily targeting teenagers and adults rather than children [4][5] - Dongguan has transformed from a "world factory" to a hub for trendy toys, supported by a robust industrial chain that facilitates production and design [7][12] Industry Overview - The trendy toy industry cluster in Dongguan is projected to achieve a total output value of 13.218 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 12.3% [7] - Dongguan currently accounts for nearly 85% of China's trendy toy production, manufacturing about 25% of global animation derivatives [8] - The number of toy enterprises in Dongguan with import and export achievements reached 940 in the first half of the year, an increase of 43 companies year-on-year, with total toy exports amounting to 9.97 billion yuan, up 6.3% [14] Company Developments - The team behind the trendy toy brand "娃三岁" successfully transitioned from live-streaming sales to designing their own blind box toys, achieving significant sales with a single-day shipment of 500 boxes, corresponding to approximately 4 million yuan in sales [5] - A toy design company that initially focused on ODM has shifted to developing its own original characters, moving its R&D and marketing departments to Dongguan to leverage the local industrial advantages [8][11] - Companies in Dongguan are increasingly moving from OEM and ODM models to OBM (Original Brand Manufacturing), establishing themselves as major players in the toy export market [11]