China's Generation Z drives new consumption trends in animation, comics, gaming merchandise

China's Generation Z is driving a new and unique consumption trend, with animation, comics, and gaming merchandise that hold the special emotional value gaining increasing popularity among young people.

"Guzi" in Chinese, or "goods" in English, is a general term for animation, comic and gaming products, including blind boxes, badges and dolls of virtual characters.

According to China Insights Consultancy, the ACG economy in China has surged to about 170 billion yuan (23 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, and its overall market size is expected to reach 300 billion yuan (43 billion U.S. dollars) by 2029.

Currently, animation, comics, and games have become some of the hottest topics among Chinese young people, with related merchandise serving as a form of "currency" for them.

Qian Yitong, a college student, also an enthusiastic comic and gaming fan, said these products provide her with spiritual comfort.

"I'm in exam week now. As soon as I wake up every day, I start studying. So I come here specially to admire these beautiful goods and relieve my stress," she said at a "Guzi" store in Beijing.

According to Qian, almost half of her friends are also animation, comic and gaming lovers. They watched cartoons when they were kids, and read comics and played video games when they got a bit older.

"Many of my classmates bought dolls made of anime characters and put them in front of them when studying in the library to give themselves spiritual strength," she added.

From a psychological perspective, experts said paying for emotional comfort reflects changes in Chinese consumption trends among young people.

"The qualities of animation, comic and gaming characters, such as their toughness and bravery, also give them spiritual power. The wonderful memories and companionship of physical goods can strengthen that feeling. Common hobbies can also easily expand the social circle of young people, which is beneficial for mental health," said psychologist Zhang Manyu.

Many big cities in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, are now treating the animation, comic and gaming industry as an engine for economic growth by creating commercial complexes that attract young people to shop offline.

China's Generation Z drives new consumption trends in animation, comics, gaming merchandise

The United States cannot legitimize an operation that attacked Venezuela and captured its president, a Chinese scholar said Sunday.

On Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale strike on Venezuela, during which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were 'captured and flown out of Venezuela' according to a post by U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social account.

Teng Jianqun, director of the Center for Diplomatic Studies at Hunan Normal University, said in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) that the aim of this operation is to take full control of Venezuela’s natural resources.

"I don't think the United States can legitimize this operation to take custody of the president of Venezuela. And also I don't think the United States can legitimize its any action in taking the oil reserves of that country. This is actually a very dangerous game played by the Trump administration. And of course, the United States would like to take full control of that country and to take full control of the natural resources, especially the large reserve of oil in Venezuela," said Teng.

Teng said Venezuela is not an isolated case but a common practice by the United States. The United States launched an invasion of Panama on Dec. 20, 1989, which continued until January 1990, with the stated objective of capturing Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriega on charges of drug trafficking and organized crime.

"We still remember the so-called sentence of the former president of Panama in the late 1980s. And this time, the president of Venezuela will be under some judicial condition (judicial proceedings) for the so-called drug trafficking and some other crimes. So I think this is not a single case for the Venezuela country, but also this is actually a practice by the United States -- to use force, to use so-called justice under law against any leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean waters," he said.

US cannot legitimize operation against Venezuela: Chinese scholar