In recent years, with the rise of short videos, social media, games, and the film industry, character animation has gradually become a popular field in artistic creation. Creating character animation and related merchandise based on original IP (Intellectual Property) has also become a future direction for modern animators. Looking at both domestic and international markets, successful character animations are often accompanied by a wide range of merchandise, enabling long-term commercialization. This blog will explore the development prospects of character animation in IP-related products, analyze industry demand, and consider relevant personal career paths.

An original character IP called “Snake Spot” has gained a lot of popularity on social media platforms. It was born from the 2022 work Fish Tank City, created by the artist “Yogin.” With its simple design, witty animation style, and humorous content, it has attracted a large audience. The creator first designed the adorable appearance of “Snake Spot” and then produced original animated short films featuring it. These short films have a cute style, smooth animation, and are highly engaging for viewers.

Through personal analysis and research, I found that the popularity of such character animation IPs comes from several factors: 

1. Lightweight Content – With the rapid growth of short videos in modern society, shorter content is more suitable for audiences’ fragmented viewing habits. 

2. Social Media Shareability– The creator has designed many stickers featuring the IP, and the character’s simple and cute design makes it easy to create stickers and fan-made videos, encouraging users to spread it voluntarily. 

3. Merchandise Development– By launching plush toys, clothing, and other merchandise, the IP animation has opportunities for monetization, while fans can also get the products they want.

Therefore, in this fast-paced society, creating character animations that align with the algorithmic preferences of short video platforms (such as TikTok and Instagram) and developing an IP-based merchandise industry has become a promising career direction for modern independent animators. This model places greater emphasis on character design, as a unique and well-defined character is more likely to attract an audience. Additionally, animated shorts based on the character help to further enrich its personality and appeal. As Shuye Lin stated in the article The Design Transformation of Traditional Chinese Animation IPs in Branding:”With the rapid development of the internet era, the animation industry has entered a phase of high-speed growth. People have begun to recognize the economic value of animation IPs, which now play an important role in brand design.” In the future, the demand for skilled professionals in this industry is expected to rise significantly.

Based on the above research, I have developed a new plan for my personal career development. The industry’s demand for talent is mainly concentrated in three areas: animation designers, character designers, and IP merchandise designers. Therefore, to align with industry trends, I have identified the following areas for improvement:

• Enhancing animation and design skills: Mastering commonly used drawing and animation software, such as TVPaint and CSP.
• Developing IP operation awareness: Learning how to promote and manage character IPs to improve commercialization capabilities.
• Keeping up with market trends: Continuously following the development of emerging fields such as short videos, the metaverse, and NFTs, and integrating them with my own work at the right time.
• Building a personal portfolio: Regularly publishing works on social media to increase personal influence.

Overall, the character animation and merchandise development industry has become a high-growth sector. The success of short-video IPs like “Snake Spot” demonstrates that lightweight content, social engagement, cross-industry collaborations, and fan-driven economies are key trends for the future. For individual creators looking to enter this field, enhancing animation skills, staying attuned to market demands, and exploring diverse commercialization strategies will be essential for success.

Reference:

• http://xhslink.com/a/T7JNuF6c1c18
• The Design Transformation of Traditional Chinese Animation IPs in Branding(Shuye Lin):https://d.wanfangdata.com.cn/thesis/D02435293
• http://xhslink.com/a/6FNvEJlkLh18
• http://xhslink.com/a/0iGARRxiLh18