China GOAT and WOLF cartoon success story

You cant escape without noticing China hottest animation characters the "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" on any kids retail outlets today in China from kids clothing, tricycles, toys, backpacks, candies and even Goat versus Wolf amusement arcade machines. Not since "Uproar in Heaven" in the 60's had any animations in China been so successful. Many years back there was another potential IP "Blue Cat" but due to internal conflicts, bad management and wrong business strategy they withered away to be replaced by a Goat and a Wolf.

"Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" 2nd movie this year was again a huge success rivaled along AVATAR for cinema screens and ended up with the fourth highest gross of RMB 126 million, the 1st movie gross above RMB 80 million. NOTE - the movie took only RMB 10 million to make and do not feature a single celebrity or famed voice actor like many Pixar animated movies.

It was first aired in 2005 featuring a simply story about the ongoing war between a wolf and a village of goats. Huitailang ( Grey Wolf ) is determined to defeat the goats and bring home a healthy goat meat meal for his wife Hongtailang ( Red Wolf ). Its a little like Tom and Jerry for China. The humor designed into the cartoon depicts many of China daily lifestyles too such as in 2005 when Super Girl contest was hot, Hongtailang ( Red Wolf ) would enter a singing contest too in the animations. Such pop culture had help to win the show to the adults community.

The characters in the story is very well designed such as Lazy Goat is always either sleeping or eating, he'll keep his eyes closed when walking just to save extra energy. Huitailang ( Grey Wolf ) had all the 10 merits of a good husband as he loves his wife more than himself, he cooks and never argues back. It is said that girlfriends asked their boyfriends to be like Huitailang as the perfect Mr. Right.

The success of "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" had brought huge hopes for the Chinese animation industry. Almost every animation studios now wants to create the next Goat and Wolf but the success of "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" is not something that can be easily mimic overnight.

THE BIG MISTAKE

"ASTRO BOY" animation was the first casualty of the Goat Dream, the movie did not make it pass RMB 10 million and suffered a huge lost which caused the studio to close its doors in Hong Kong. More casualties will come as time past many will learn that the Goat Dream needs proper planning and strategic move to get success.

When the 1st "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" movie hit the screen they already have more than 300 episodes broadcasting in more than 100 channels. When the 2nd movie hit the screen there were 500 episodes that had been broadcasted Chinawide. The promoter SMG had used a huge marketing budget to push the movie months prior to its release (*it is a PUSH MARKETING effect that helped in its box office) without this no animated movie could gain good screen time.

THE REVENUES DREAM

Its true that connected animation studios benefits from a helping hand from the government, any animation shown on domestic TV even at midnight are rewarded by the government with funds. And as part of the protection policy for domestic cartoons, the only cartoons that national TV station can broadcast between 5pm to 8pm (*golden period) are Chinese cartoons.

The key revenues from "Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf" are still licensing of merchandise.

TBC ...