Appealing to all

App engineer Wang Yunlong, 25, becomes very excited when he finds someone in the real world with like-minded preferences for video games ranging from the classic League of Legends, to the latest smartphone version of domestically developed Menghuan Xiyou (fantasy journey to the west).

Wang has been reading comics and manga since middle school, greatly influenced like many others born in the 1980s by the classic Japanese manga series Slam Dunk, which ran from 1990 to 1996 and sold millions of copies around the world.

"After gaokao (national college entrance examinations), I wanted to choose a major in animation and manga. But my parents rejected that idea immediately," Wang recalled.

"A hobby is just a hobby, and life is life," said Wang. He feels people shouldn't exaggerate the differences between the two worlds.

But Wang has been withdrawing from inside the wall. He feels the market lacks the right channels to consume the culture, because of a lack of resources supporting the culture in China.

"To be frank, as I grow older, the energy and money that I invest in this is less and less," he said.

Dong said it's more than just about an individual's choices, but also depends on the greater environment.

"If there are still good works for you to read and watch in your 20s and 30s, you'll stay. Otherwise you'll leave. That's exactly why Japan is 'a nation of comics', but China isn't."

ACG content is often too juvenile and lacking in appeal to a wider audience. Improving appeal to a broader spectrum of customers will become the focus in the future, says the Annual Report on Development of China's Animation Industry.

While improving the quality of the products is key to improving its appeal, many other factors also play a role.

"It's a chain of reactions," said Dong in response to Wang's complaint.

"I think it's a shortage of target customers, a lack of purchasing power, and a shortage of good quality products," said Dong.

However, Dong is certain of the industry's potential.

"Now with more and more original works being created, we can see that the whole industry shows signs of prosperity and steady growth," said Dong.

With Wei preparing for motherhood, she said she won't be giving up her subculture.

She's looking forward to enjoying the fun inside of the wall, together with her child.

"I think I will keep my two-dimensional characters for a long time to come," she said.