Bastille’s Story | From Local to Global: How a Chinese AI Animation Corporation Uses AI-Powered Creativity to Expand Across the Middle East and Southeast Asia

As AI sweeps across industries worldwide, a Chinese corporation had staked its claim in the field years before the technology entered the mainstream. As early as ten years ago, when AI was still largely unfamiliar to the public, LAiPIC AI Technology Company, based in Shenzhen’s Qianhai, had already taken a pioneering role in the field of AIGC (AI-Generated Content), becoming one of the first animation corporations in the Chinese Mainland to focus on AI-powered content creation. The corporation quickly gained traction in the Middle East, and in recent years has shifted its focus to expanding into the markets of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, serving numerous government departments and large enterprises across both Mainland and Hong Kong, as well as planning to list in Hong Kong next year.

In an interview with Bastille Post, Mr. Kwan Chung, Head of Business in Hong Kong of LAiPIC, said that since its founding in 2015, the corporation has remained focused on AI-generated content. It has since developed two core platforms: Doratoon, an AI-driven animation creation platform specialising in audiovisual content; and a smart platform. Its sub-brand, InnAIO, is gradually rolling out translation software and solutions for both individual consumers and business clients, based on a proprietary translation model.

Mr. Kwan Chung, Head of Business in Hong Kong of LAiPIC, Photo source: LAiPIC

1,000-Second AI Animations: A Game Changer for Content Creation

Mr. Chung explained that LAiPIC’s core product line consists of three main platforms: Doratoon, a global AI animation platform; Vinabot, an AI-powered emotional interaction platform; and InnAIO, an AI voice and hardware interaction platform.

Doratoon allows users to generate animated videos, AI avatars, and AI short films with a single click, producing clips up to 1,000 seconds long while maintaining character consistency. In terms of both generation length and production speed, Doratoon outperforms similar products currently on the market. Vinabot is a visual AI platform that can flexibly act as a virtual assistant, guide, or customer service representative. InnAIO focuses on multilingual translation and hardware, with product lines that include translation devices and accessible meeting room solutions designed to meet communication needs across different scenarios.

Mr. Chung noted that while the platform handles pure Cantonese or pure English translations well, a major challenge remains: Hong Kong locals often mix Cantonese with Hong Kong-style English in everyday conversations. “It's a common pain point across the entire translation industry,” he said. “And we are continuously working to improve it.”

To date, LAiPIC’s platform has generated millions of creative works and serves over 30 million users in more than 180 countries and regions, making it a vital content-creation tool for government agencies, businesses, and individuals alike.

LAiPIC’s core product line consists of three main platforms: Doratoon, a global AI animation platform; Vinabot, an AI-powered emotional interaction platform; and InnAIO, an AI voice and hardware interaction platform. Photo by Bastille Post

Take the AI avatar application as an instance. Traditionally, producing content for an influencer or KOL would require a team of at least four or five people, including a camera crew, a scriptwriter, a videographer, and a makeup artist. Now, a single person can write scripts and shoot footage using the platform, then reuse existing clips to generate a full week’s worth of content, slashing both labour and time costs by at least 20%.

In the public sector, AI avatars can help government officials promote cultural tourism and city branding more engagingly. On social media, LAiPIC has also helped many clients build successful digital influencers for paid knowledge content, English language instruction, or product presentations.

For professional institutions, LAiPIC’s IP assistant has been deployed across several government departments in Shenzhen, including the Shenzhen Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Shenzhen Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, the Shenzhen Education Bureau, and the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau. Citizens can interact directly with these departments’ dedicated AI mini-models. for example, by inquiring about talent policies for 2026 graduates. Moreover, LAiPIC can also create custom AI avatars aligned with a firm’s corporate image and industry characteristics, allowing AI to handle a high volume of routine tasks and leaving only the more complex matters to professionals, which helps dramatically to improve overall work efficiency.

The Qatar World Cup Mascot: LAiPIC's Signature Work

Mr. Chung explained that the corporation initially concentrated on the Mainland market before launching its overseas expansion in late 2022. At that time, AI was experiencing explosive growth. The corporation chose the Arab region as its first overseas destination, largely based on its friendly diplomatic ties with China, relatively untapped AI adoption, and strong financial resources. As a consequence, the first move proved highly successful for the corporation's future operations.

LAiPIC’s breakthrough moment came when it provided both the cartoon IP design and AI animation technology for “La’eeb,” the official mascot of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The playful, adorable character, inspired by the traditional Arab headscarf, was affectionately nicknamed “Jiaozi Pi” (dumpling wrapper) by Chinese fans. Powered by LAiPIC’s AI animation generation and intelligent interaction capabilities, La’eeb became a global sensation during the tournament.

“La’eeb,” the official mascot of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Photo source: Screenshot by Bastille Post

Since this year, LAiPIC has accelerated its push into the ASEAN market, selling products in Vietnam and Thailand and establishing an overseas branch in Singapore. Notably, one of LAiPIC’s AI-powered digital photo frame products has received high praise in ASEAN countries with strong religious traditions. The corporation’s business now spans Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, with partnerships successfully forged with local governments in the regions.

Establishing a Foothold in the Hong Kong Market

LAiPIC has settled in Hong Kong’s Cyberport since 2024. “Hong Kong serves as an international springboard, which greatly supports our overseas expansion,” Mr. Chung said. “At the same time, as a bridge between Chinese and Western cultures, Cyberport’s focus on innovation and technology aligns perfectly with our products.”

The Chief Executive, Mr. John Lee is experiencing LAiPIC’s AI-powered digital photo frame products at Cyberport. Photo source: Cyberport

Currently, the corporation’s Hong Kong business involves primarily government agencies and various business associations, including the Hong Kong Police Force, local financial institutions, and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, etc. Collaborations are already underway in areas such as AI avatars and AI assistants. In addition, simultaneous interpretation services represent another key business line. The corporation has provided offline simultaneous interpretation products for numerous large-scale government and business events, including those held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and AsiaWorld-Expo. “Many customers have told us that our products offer advantages in pricing, language support, response speed, and accuracy,” Mr. Chung revealed.

The translation service provided by InnAIO, Photo source: Shenzhen Release Office

He added that this year, the corporation’s focus is to further expand into Hong Kong’s local SME market, promoting applications across its entire product chain, covering localised sectors such as finance, healthcare, and law consultation.

On the consumer side, the InnAIO AI Language Translator is already available on JD.com, Taobao, Amazon, and the company’s own platform. LAiPIC is also in talks with local Hong Kong retailers such as Broadway to expand its sales channels. On the enterprise side, the company plans to launch accessible meeting room solutions capable of supporting five languages simultaneously, covering over 70 languages in total, with particularly high accuracy in Cantonese translation.

Eyeing a Hong Kong Listing for Future Growth

Looking ahead, LAiPIC is actively preparing for a Hong Kong IPO. If all goes according to plan, the corporation expects to complete its listing by early next year. On the hardware product front, LAiPIC will launch a smart ring, a product that not only offers translation capabilities, but can also be used to control a mobile phone. Mr. Chung believes the ring will have broader applicability than smart glasses: “Not everyone wants to wear glasses,” he said. “But anyone can wear a ring.”

Looking ahead, LAiPIC is actively preparing for a Hong Kong IPO. Photo by Bastille Post

Government invites public views on outline of its combined fourth and fifth UNCRPD reports

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) issued today (May 11) the outline of its combined fourth and fifth reports under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to seek views from all members of the public. The reports will be submitted to the Central People's Government for incorporation into the periodic reports of the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the United Nations pursuant to the UNCRPD.

The UNCRPDentered intoforce for the PRC, including the HKSAR, on August 31, 2008. The purpose of the UNCRPD is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedomsby all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity.

In accordance with Article 35 of theUNCRPD, each State Party shall periodically submit reports on the measures taken to discharge its obligations under the UNCRPD for consideration by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Committee). The HKSAR Government submitted its combined second and third reports on the implementation of the UNCRPD in 2018, which were subsequently incorporated into the combined second and third reports submitted by the country to the United Nations, and the reports were considered by the Committee in 2022.

A spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) said, "We will report the specific situations on the implementation of the UNCRPD in the HKSAR since the previous reports. We will also respond in the reports to the concerns raised and recommendations made by the Committee in its Concluding Observations published after the hearings held in 2022."

The public consultation period commences today and will end on June 30. The LWB and the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee will cohost public consultation sessions during the consultation period for all members of the public to express their views. Details of the public consultation sessions and the registration arrangements have been published on the LWB's website (https://www.lwb.gov.hk/en/highlights/UNCRPD/index.html).

"We shall summarise comments received during the consultation period and relay them to the relevant Government bureaux and departments for consideration in preparing the combined fourth and fifth UNCRPD reports," the spokesman said.

The proposed outline of the combined fourth and fifth reports under the UNCRPD is available on the LWB's website (https://www.lwb.gov.hk/en/highlights/UNCRPD/Publications/Public%20consultation%20paper_Eng.pdf).

For enquiries, please contact the LWB by fax (2543 0486) or email (uncrpd_consultation@lwb.gov.hk).

Source: AI-found images