On June 30, 2023, the final day of the Global Licensing Expo (LEC) in Shanghai, crowds peaked once again as the event was about to close. As one of the world's largest licensing industry exhibitions, LEC is undoubtedly a celebration of intellectual property (IP). With the continuous breakthroughs in internet development, globalization and youth-focused trends have become the new direction in the cultural industry. The new generation of high-quality Chinese IP has become a key target for global brand collaborations.

Trends Improve, IP Licensing Industry Steadily Grows

According to the 2020-2021 "Immersive Cultural Tourism Development Report," China’s immersive industry is in a period of steady growth with strong momentum. Meanwhile, a new content marketing model is emerging on the supply side, with quality and innovation becoming the core competitiveness, benefiting the IP licensing sector. Additionally, China’s licensing market shows higher average growth than the global average, ranking fifth globally but accounting for only 3.8% of the global market share. This suggests vast potential for growth. Aside from popular IPs, emerging IPs were also highly favored at the event. Notably, the futuristic sci-fi IP “AI's Dream” stood out with its unique development path and high-quality storyline, positioning itself as a potential leading emerging IP.

Immersive Tourism and Long-Term IP Licensing Models

Multiple reports indicate that the immersive cultural tourism market is booming. “AI's Dream,” with its AI-based immersive movie as the core, introduces a new long-term licensing model. This summer, audiences can book sessions to wear smart suits and interact with the AI virtual idol "AiAi" to experience multiple storylines, exploring future scenarios like ethical testing, space elevators, and more. This transforms technology from a mere concept into a tangible experience.

Building a Unique Licensing Ecosystem

“AI's Dream” penetrates all fields, including offline exhibitions, stories, comics, movies, brand collaborations, art exhibitions, and unique derivative designs, creating a positive cycle between content, users, and brands. This creative licensing ecosystem provides strong support for the development and promotion of the “AI's Dream” IP.

At the LEC exhibition, the cute “AiAi” figurine attracted many visitors. In the exhibition space, audiences could immerse themselves in a unique art space and experience the fantastical world of “AI's Dream” through well-designed interactive exhibits, gaining a deep understanding of its themes and storylines.

Focusing on Quality Content and Creativity

“AI's Dream” adheres to the principle of "content is king," with quality creativity forming the solid foundation for its derivative universe. From an immersive movie to a sci-fi adventure, it offers audiences a journey into its universe. This high-quality content has successfully captured the interest of the younger generation, aided by the rise of the sci-fi trend.

As more Gen Z audiences embrace sci-fi, Chinese original sci-fi IPs are gradually going global. The 2023 World Science Fiction Convention will be held in Chengdu, marking China’s first time hosting such an event. This signals the upcoming sci-fi wave in China.

With its compelling sci-fi storylines, “AI's Dream” stands out in a competitive market and has attracted a loyal following of young fans.