Deng Qiao, born into Taiwan's animation legacy under his father Deng Youli, who is hailed as the "Father of Taiwanese Animated Feature Films," had the opportunity to seamlessly carry forward his family's achievements. However, his attempt at an original feature, Starlight on the Toes, received harsh criticism, plunging him into self-doubt.
Despite this setback, Deng persisted in pursuing his dreams. Around 2012, he pivoted to the Japanese market, leveraging connections through Mizuho Bank and Tokyo Television, among others. Breaking into Japan's stringent animation "production committee" ecosystem—a core entity overseeing the quality, funding, and visibility of an animation—was no easy feat. Deng invested three years into networking, attending various gatherings, and fostering trust through Japan's traditional "sake diplomacy."
In 2015, Deng founded Zhibao International and secured a breakthrough by becoming a production committee member for the classic Taiwanese IP Xuan Yuan Sword. This achievement marked a solid business foundation via a profit-sharing model. Since then, Zhibao has participated in over 20 production committee projects, including Netflix's original Cannon Busters and Fantasia Sango: Realm of Legends, a collaboration with UserJoy Technology. These successes have cemented Zhibao's reputation in the Japanese animation market, elevating its ambitions to become a "lead company," taking charge of overall planning and reaping greater rewards.
With backing from key investors like Taiwan Mobile and Noritz, Zhibao's operations have expanded significantly. Its revenue has grown from NT$153 million to a projected NT$250 million in 2024. Beyond animation, Zhibao operates subsidiaries such as Tropic of Cancer Entertainment, which brings Japanese IP to Taiwan and plans to extend into Southeast Asia, and Shoei Creative, co-founded with Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), which focuses on refining Taiwan's original IP and diversifying it into manga, animation, games, and more.
Looking ahead, Zhibao is planning to enter the capital market in 2025, striving to become Taiwan's first pure-play ACG IP stock. Through support from the capital market, extensive networks, and industry expertise, Deng and Zhibao aim to secure more high-profile production committee roles, attract high-value IPs, and accelerate Taiwan's original content on the global stage. Despite fierce global competition and high investment risks, Zhibao remains steadfast, turning setbacks into momentum and aspiring to set new benchmarks in the ACG industry.
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