What October does

October Media (十月文化) is a Beijing-based 3D animation production studio founded in 1999 by director Tian Xiaopeng. The company creates original animated feature films, television series, and licensed derivative products, with a thematic focus on modern reinterpretations of Chinese mythology — most notably the Monkey King franchise and Ne Zha. Its technical core is proprietary 3D animation production, including a custom 'particle ink wash' (粒子水墨) rendering pipeline developed for its 2023 feature Deep Sea that combines traditional ink-wash aesthetics with 3D animation.

The studio's product portfolio spans four released theatrical features (Monkey King: Hero Is Back, 2015; Ne Zha, 2019 co-production; Deep Sea, 2023), an upcoming sequel Monkey King: Havoc In Heaven, a 52-episode children's TV series (Monkey King and JJ), and a globally distributed PS4 game based on Monkey King: Hero Is Back. Revenue is generated through three principal streams: domestic theatrical box office participation on its own films, IP licensing across merchandise, games, product placement, and themed entertainment, and co-production economics with distribution partners — most prominently Coloroom Pictures (光线彩条屋影业, backed by Enlight Media) and Coco Beans Animation.

October operates a horizontally segmented, consumer-facing model targeting Chinese families and animation enthusiasts, while commercializing output through a small set of strategic B2B partners for distribution, co-financing, and game publishing. Headcount of 11–50 indicates an asset-light, project-driven studio that relies on creative talent and partnerships rather than scale economics. The studio is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors beyond an early Enlight Media investment.

Name

October

Legal name

十月文化 (October Media)

Website

https://octmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

October Media is a Beijing-based 3D animation studio founded in 1999 that produces original Chinese animated feature films, TV series, and IP-licensed derivatives for families and animation enthusiasts, commercially distributed primarily through partnerships with Coloroom Pictures and global licensees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animated Film Production

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Animated Series Production (TV/Streaming) (MPADACAG)

Keywords

• 3D animation production
• Animated feature films
• Chinese mythology animation
• IP licensing services
• Original IP development

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Box Office: Revenue from domestic theatrical releases of animated films in China, including ticket sales and related theatrical distribution.
2. IP Licensing and Derivatives: Licensing original IPs for merchandise, consumer products, and themed entertainment including game development, product placement, merchandise licensing, and IP-themed parks.
3. Co-production and Strategic Partnerships: Strategic co-productions with partners like Coloroom Pictures and Coco Beans Animation, sharing production costs and revenues for major animated films.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

October Media is a Chinese animation studio that produces 3D animated feature films and television series rooted in Chinese mythology and original storytelling, including the Monkey King: Hero Is Back franchise, Ne Zha, and Deep Sea. The studio monetizes its IP through theatrical box-office release, co-productions, and a structured licensing program covering game adaptations, product placement, merchandise, themed entertainment, and IP investment.

Product overview

October Media (十月文化) is a Chinese 3D animation studio founded in 1999 by director Tian Xiaopeng. The company operates as a content creation studio producing animated feature films and television series, complemented by IP licensing services. Core products include feature films (Deep Sea, Monkey King: Hero Is Back, Ne Zha, Monkey King: Havoc In Heaven), a TV series (Monkey King and JJ), and a PS4 video game. The business extends through licensing divisions covering merchandise, product placement, game development, themed entertainment, and IP investment services. October Media's business model centers on original IP creation in animation, with revenue streams from theatrical releases, licensing, and derivative product development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Deep Sea (深海) A 3D animated feature film produced and released by October Media, directed by Tian Xiaopeng, that uses stylized character animation and large-scale cast simulation rendering. The film targets general audiences and animation enthusiasts in China and was released theatrically on January 22, 2023.
• Monkey King: Hero Is Back (西游记之大圣归来) A 3D animated feature film based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, directed by Tian Xiaopeng. Released theatrically on July 10, 2015, the film became a milestone Chinese domestic animated feature, grossing over 956 million RMB at the Chinese box office and establishing the studio's commercially successful Monkey King IP franchise.
• Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世) A 3D animated feature film co-produced by October Media, based on the Chinese mythological character Ne Zha. Released theatrically on July 26, 2019, the film became China's highest-grossing animated film and entered the global top-grossing animated film rankings, establishing a benchmark for Chinese domestic animation commercial performance.
• Monkey King and JJ (西游记J J篇) A 52-episode animated television series produced by October Media, extending the studio's Monkey King IP franchise into serialized television content for general audiences.
• Monkey King: Hero Is Back (PS4 Game) A PlayStation 4 action-adventure game adaptation of October Media's Monkey King: Hero Is Back animated film, developed and published in collaboration with Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2019, the game extends the studio's Monkey King IP franchise into console gaming.
• Game Licensing Service A B2B IP licensing service offered by October Media, granting third-party game developers rights to adapt the studio's animation IP into interactive game products. The service is structured as a separate licensing function listed on the company's website.
• Product Placement Service A B2B IP licensing service offered by October Media, enabling brand partners to integrate the studio's animation IP and characters into third-party brand marketing campaigns and product placements.
• Merchandise Licensing Service A B2B IP licensing service offered by October Media, granting third-party manufacturers rights to produce and sell merchandise based on the studio's animation IP.
• IP Themed Entertainment Service A B2B IP licensing service offered by October Media, granting entertainment operators rights to develop themed attractions and experiences based on the studio's animation IP.
• IP Investment Service A B2B IP investment service offered by October Media, through which the studio participates in IP-related investment arrangements with external partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Monkey King: Hero Is Back achieved RMB 956 million box office, becoming China's highest-grossing animated film at the time
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Sony Interactive Entertainment (索尼互娱)flagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 November 2019Joint development partner for PS4 game Monkey King: Hero Is Back, the first game based on a Chinese original IP on PlayStation platform, developed by Chinese and Japanese teams and distributed globally in November 2019.
• Oasis Games (绿洲游戏)flagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 November 2019Joint development partner for PS4 game Monkey King: Hero Is Back alongside Sony Interactive Entertainment and October Media.
• Coloroom Pictures (光线彩条屋影业)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2019Strategic partnership announced January 2019 between October Media and Coloroom Pictures (光线彩条屋影业) to jointly produce three animated films: Deep Sea, Monkey King: Havoc In Heaven, and Ne Zha. Coloroom Pictures, backed by Enlight Media, is a leading animation film company that has produced or distributed works including Big Fish & Begonia and Your Name.
• Coco Beans Animation (可可豆动画)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2019Co-production partnership with Coco Beans Animation for Ne Zha (哪吒之魔童降世). Both Coco Beans and October Media received investment from Coloroom Pictures, making them sister companies. October Media provided creative consultation and introductions to production teams.
• Marvel EntertainmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2007Co-production partnership in December 2007 for Spider-man themed game commercial, representing an early international collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Studio Ghibli: Studio Ghibli is a globally recognized Japanese animation studio producing original animated features. Comparable as a creative-driven, founder-anchored animation studio producing culturally rooted original IP feature films.
• DreamWorks Animation: DreamWorks Animation produces 3D animated feature films and related consumer products. Serves as a broad incumbent comparable for theatrical animation, IP licensing, and merchandise revenue streams.
• Pixar Animation Studios: Pixar is a global leader in 3D animated feature films. It is a broader incumbent benchmark for the original-IP theatrical animation business model October is pursuing, and a long-term talent and technology reference point.
• Shanghai Animation Film Studio (上海美术电影制片厂): State-affiliated historic Chinese animation studio (creator of classics like Havoc in Heaven, Lotus Lantern). Provides incumbent benchmark and competitive context in the Chinese mythology-animation category.
• Illumination (Universal): Illumination produces globally successful 3D animated feature films (Despicable Me, Minions). It is a broader incumbent relevant for animation production scale, IP franchising, and global distribution economics.

Direct peers

• Original Force (原力动画): Original Force is a major Chinese 3D animation and CG production house that works on feature films, games, and VFX for both domestic and international clients. Comparable in production capabilities and co-production model to October Media.
• Light Chaser Animation (追光动画): Light Chaser Animation is a leading Chinese 3D animation feature film studio (White Snake, New Gods: Nezha Reborn, Tea Fairy). Closely comparable to October in business model, target market, and original-IP feature film strategy.
• Coco Beans Animation (可可豆动画): Coco Beans Animation co-produced Ne Zha (2019) with October and Coloroom. It is a Chinese animation studio specializing in theatrical animated features based on Chinese mythology, making it a tightly overlapping peer in creative scope and target audience.
• Coloroom Pictures (光线彩条屋影业): Coloroom Pictures is October's strategic co-production partner and sister company (both invested in by Enlight Media), focused on Chinese animated feature films. It distributed Big Fish & Begonia and Your Name in China and is the most direct comparable given the joint co-production pipeline.

Emerging players

• Bilibili Animation / Haoliners Animation League (绘梦动画): Bilibili-affiliated animation studios produce Chinese animated features and series. They are an emerging competitor in the same Chinese animation space, with broader streaming distribution backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about October