Zhejiang Peanut Life Animation Co.

What Zhejiang Peanut Life Animation Co. does

Zhejiang Peanut Life Animation Co. (花花生生动画) is a Zhejiang-domiciled, Beijing-operated IP content and commercialization platform founded in 2011 and rebuilt under current CEO Jin Cheng (former IDG Capital VP and TPG/Evolution Media Capital Investment Director) from 2019. The company acquires, develops, and operates a portfolio of culturally significant IPs — anchored by exclusive long-term rights to Sad Frog (Pepe), Three-Body, China Aerospace Foundation, Terracotta Warriors, and Rural Love — and monetizes them through four interlocking verticals: (1) IP licensing and commercial authorization to consumer brands; (2) e-commerce operations on Douyin and other Chinese social platforms for enterprise clients; (3) city-renewal and physical cultural space operations including the JV-operated Gulangyu Academy on Xiamen's Gulangyu Island and Three-Body immersive art exhibitions; and (4) digital collectible issuance on the Bohe platform, where AI-generated ERC721 Sad Frog NFTs are sold with bundled 5-year commercial licensing rights enabling collectors to sub-license the IP to brands.

The underlying technology stack combines AI-generated 2D and 3D character assets (10,000 unique Sad Frog avatars with skeletal binding for metaverse use), AIGC human-computer dialogue built on large language models via the Feng Yuzhu partnership, and ERC721 blockchain tokenization for digital-asset commercialization. Documented customers include tier-1 Chinese FMCG, beauty, sportswear, and mobility brands such as Luckin Coffee, Anta, CEMOY, Ble de Fonty, Unifresh, Unisweet, Langsha, Tongcheng, and Mingshan International, with case-study outcomes such as Anta's Douyin account reaching 10M+ followers in three months and a single-night 10M+ RMB sales event at the Sad Frog x AKOMA pop-up. Reported 2022 revenue was 12.028 million RMB with a 2% equity round from Hanyi Stock (301270.SZ) implying a ~250 million RMB valuation, suggesting an early-stage commercial trajectory across multiple high-leverage verticals.

Name

Zhejiang Peanut Life Animation Co.

Legal name

浙江花花生生动画有限公司

Website

https://peanutanimation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Zhejiang Peanut Life Animation is a Chinese IP commercialization platform that operates exclusive rights to Sad Frog, Three-Body, China Aerospace, and Terracotta Warriors, monetizing them via brand licensing, Douyin e-commerce services, city-renewal venues, and AI-generated digital collectibles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

IP Licensing & Brand Services

NAICS

Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (5331), Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) (533), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Patent Owners & Lessors (6794), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Creator Licensing & Rights Monetization (UGC Licensing, Music/Video Rights) (MPACAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Merchandising, Character & Brand Licensing (MPADALAF), Royalties, Rights & Revenue Management (on-chain royalties, splits, licensing, enforcement) (FSAPAFAC), IP, Royalties & Revenue-Share Tokenization (FSADAEAJ), Video, Film & Animation NFT Marketplaces (FSADANAE), Digital Game Marketplaces & Item Economies (NFT/Skins/Trading) (BPAMAKAJ)

Keywords

• IP licensing
• Digital collectibles
• E-commerce operations
• Urban renewal
• Brand co-marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hangzhou

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. IP Licensing and Commercial Authorization: The company licenses owned or exclusively operated IPs (Sad Frog, Three-Body, China Aerospace, Terracotta Warriors, Rural Love) to brands for co-branded product development, marketing campaigns, and merchandise. Commercial authorization fees range from thousands to tens of thousands of RMB per year per brand. IP annual commercial licensing revenue for Sad Frog in China alone is approximately 10 million RMB.
2. Digital Collectible / NFT Issuance and Sales: Issuance of digital collectibles on blockchain platforms (e.g., Bohe/薄盒) with bundled commercial licensing rights. Collectors purchase NFTs at 699-999 RMB per unit and can independently authorize brands. Platform takes a transaction/authorization fee. Sad Frog digital collectibles issued at 699-999 RMB per unit, with 10,000 total supply. Cumulative issuance of 2,500 Sad Frog digital assets as of December 2022.
3. E-commerce Operation Services: Managing Douyin/TikTok and e-commerce accounts for brand clients on a service fee or performance-sharing basis. Services include content creation, short video production, live streaming, and private domain operations. Case studies show revenue growth outcomes for brands such as Anta (top-tier sports brand Douyin account built to 10M+ followers in 3 months) and CEMOY (reached 1M followers within 3 months).
4. City Renewal / Physical Space Operations: Operating physical spaces under city renewal projects, including the Lujian Dagang·Gulangyu Academy (近30,000 sqm joint venture with Xiamen C&D Group) and Three-Body immersive art exhibitions (2,500 sqm, 13 scenes). Revenue derived from ticketing, space licensing, cultural events, and merchandise sales within these spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zhejiang Peanut Life Animation Co. operates as a content and brand services platform providing IP commercialization services (including licensing of Sad Frog, Three-Body, China Aerospace, and Terracotta Warriors IPs to brands), full-stack Douyin e-commerce account management for brand clients, urban renewal and cultural space operations (e.g., Gulangyu Academy, Three-Body immersive exhibitions), and blockchain-issued digital collectibles (Sad Frog NFTs) bundled with commercial licensing rights. Revenue is generated primarily through brand licensing fees, e-commerce service fees, space operations revenue, and digital collectible sales.

Product overview

Peanut Animation operates as a comprehensive IP content creative operations and commercialization platform serving the global market. The company's main business consists of five core segments: IP Commercialization (IP授权), E-commerce Operations (电商运营), Urban Renewal (城市更新), Animation Business, and Financial Investment. Their flagship IP is Sad Frog (Pepe), a globally recognized cartoon character, alongside licensed IPs including Three-Body (三体), China Aerospace Foundation, Terra Cotta Warriors (兵马俑), and Rural Love (乡村爱情). The company has expanded into digital new economy businesses including NFT digital collectibles (悲伤蛙数字藏品) and digital asset management through Web3 technology, as well as physical exhibitions like the Three-Body Immersive Art Exhibition and urban cultural space renewal projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IP Licensing & Commercialization Services Provides IP management, operation and commercialization services for premium owned or exclusively operated IPs (Sad Frog, Three-Body, China Aerospace, Terracotta Warriors, Rural Love, Luluni). Licenses IP to brand clients for co-branded products, packaging, marketing campaigns, and merchandise. For brand clients: brand IP co-branding, digital collectible licensing, brand collaboration campaigns.
• E-commerce Operations Service Full-stack Douyin/Taobao e-commerce account management for brand clients including content strategy, short video creation, live streaming sales, private domain operations, and paid traffic (千川) optimization. For consumer brand clients: Anta (10M+ followers in 3 months, 120% AOV increase), CEMOY (1M followers, ROI > 3), Ble de Fonty (70% repeat purchase rate), Unifresh (10K RMB daily sales by day 3).
• Urban Renewal / Cultural Space Operations Operating physical cultural spaces under city renewal projects, including the Lujian Dagang Gulangyu Academy (nearly 30,000 sqm joint venture with Xiamen C&D Group) and Three-Body immersive art exhibitions (2,500 sqm, 13 scenes). Revenue from ticketing, space licensing, cultural events, and merchandise sales. For government/SOE cultural institutions seeking content-driven space activation.
• Sad Frog Digital Collectibles (悲伤蛙数字藏品) NFT digital collectibles on blockchain featuring 10,000 unique AI-generated Sad Frog variations with 3D digital avatars, bundled with 5-year commercial licensing rights for brand collaborations. Each NFT includes 1 unique 2D Sad Frog avatar, 1 corresponding 3D digital human with skeletal binding, and the right to independently authorize brands for commercial use. For individual NFT collectors and digital asset investors.
• Daming Palace Danqing Gate Digital Collectible (大明宫遗址"丹凤门"数字藏品) Limited-edition digital collectible (30,000 copies at 9.9 CNY each) issued as a public welfare/charity initiative during Chinese New Year 2022, with proceeds supporting Daming Palace heritage preservation. For individual collectors and cultural heritage supporters.
• Three-Body Immersive Art Exhibition (建发·三体沉浸式艺术展) Ticketed immersive art exhibition based on China's most internationally recognized sci-fi IP Three-Body, featuring 2,500 sqm of real-scene recreations across 13 spaces. For cultural tourism consumers and Three-Body IP fans across multiple cities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sad Frog WeChat emoji called ~500 million times over 3 years (微信上差不多5亿次的调用)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Feng Yuzhu (风语筑)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeng Yuzhu (603466.SH) is the leading A-share listed digital new media technology company specializing in CG visual, VR/AR/XR, AIGC, and digital content production. Feng Yuzhu invested in Peanut Animation and jointly developed the Sad Frog AIGC human-computer interactive digital experience — combining Feng Yuzhu's pre-trained AI models with Peanut's Sad Frog IP. Feng Yuzhu also co-hosted the Dreamer Animation New Force Summit (筑梦者动画新力量高峰论坛) with Peanut Animation.
• Bohe (薄盒)coreTechnology or IntegrationBohe (薄盒) is the digital collectible issuance platform operated by Beijing Boxing Technology Co. (北京擘盒科技有限公司). Peanut Animation partnered with Bohe to issue Sad Frog digital collectibles. Bohe is considered by Peanut as the most compliant platform in China's digital collectible market. The platform supports ERC721 token issuance and has hosted major IP-digital collectible collaborations including Jay Chou's music metaverse.
• Xiamen C&D Group (厦门建发集团)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeanut Animation established a joint venture with Xiamen C&D Group to operate the Lujian Dagang Gulangyu Academy (鹭潮·鼓浪屿美院), a nearly 30,000 sqm art-driven cultural space on Gulangyu Island in Xiamen. The project aims to create a world-class island art demonstration zone and new consumption scene, leveraging art-driven content and non-heritage cultural programming to attract young demographics.
• Beijing Tangxiaoguo Culture Technology (北京糖小果文化科技有限公司)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBeijing Tangxiaoguo Culture Technology is the co-operator of the Sad Frog digital asset project with Peanut Animation. COO Wang Zhonglei (王中雷) serves as both Beijing Tangxiaoguo COO and Peanut Animation's Sad Frog digital asset operations director. Tangxiaoguo issued the first 10,000 Sad Frog digital collectibles via ERC721 blockchain protocol in July 2022.
• Beijing Boxing Technology (北京擘盒科技有限公司)coreTechnology or IntegrationBeijing Boxing Technology is the creator of the Bohe (薄盒) platform, invested in by Fujian New East Lake Investment (福建东湖投资有限公司). Beijing Boxing Technology co-operates the Jay Chou Music Metaverse on the Bohe platform, where Sad Frog digital collectible holders can use their 3D Sad Frog avatars as digital identities to enter and interact in the metaverse space.
• Candy Culture (糖果文化)coreOthersCandy Culture is an investment target and operational subsidiary of Peanut Animation, focused on digital world value creation including NFT issuance, IP digital marketing, blockchain/AI/VR product development, and NFT artwork collection and exhibition. Candy Culture is the issuer of the Sad Frog digital collectibles, having created 10,000 unique Sad Frog 2D avatars and corresponding 3D digital humans.
• Ben Shan Media (本山传媒)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerBen Shan Media is the official partner for the Rural Love (乡村爱情) IP, one of China's longest-running TV drama series. The IP center united with Youku to launch the Rural Love anime IP trendy toy collection in 2021, targeting younger demographics through contemporary pop culture formats.
• China Aerospace Foundation (中国航天基金会)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerChina Aerospace Foundation is the exclusive licensor for the China Aerospace IP, with Peanut Animation holding exclusive authorization to develop and commercialize this IP. The partnership is part of Peanut's strategy to operate IPs representing China's past (Terracotta Warriors), present (China Aerospace), and future (Three-Body).
• Three-Body Universe (三体宇宙)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerThree-Body Universe holds the commercial rights to China's most internationally recognized sci-fi IP — Three-Body (三体). Peanut Animation holds authorization to develop and operate the Three-Body IP, including immersive art exhibitions (currently in multiple cities, 2,500 sqm), space operations, and digital collectible exploration. Three-Body's global distribution stands at approximately 57 million copies, comparable to Harry Potter's 60 million at the time of its film adaptation.
• Emperor Qinshan Mausoleum Museum (秦始皇帝陵博物院)minorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerThe museum holds authority over the Terracotta Warriors cultural heritage IP. Peanut Animation has developed the Terracotta Warriors IP in colorful, trendy, globally appealing design language — using block color patchwork that breaks stereotypes of the original monotone Terracotta Warriors appearance. The colorful design symbolizes the diversity, inclusiveness and international nature of traditional cultural elements.
• Shandong Television / Beijing Ancient Building Music FestivalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPeanut Animation operates the Beijing Ancient Building Music Festival project under guidance of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Heritage and Dongcheng District Government. The festival uses iconic Beijing ancient buildings (Bell and Drum Tower, Confucius Temple, Imperial College, Yongding Gate, Beihai, Jingshan, Summer Palace) as performance venues, combining music and heritage preservation. The event is part of Beijing's Central Axis UNESCO World Heritage application.
• Baidu (百度)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBaidu participated in a closed-door salon organized by Entertainment Capital and Beijing Cultural Industry Investment Association alongside Peanut Animation, discussing 'digital collectible second half — how to empower entities and link marketing.' Baidu's XuperChain blockchain infrastructure supports their own digital collectible business and industry ecosystem.
• Modern Sky (摩登天空)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerModern Sky, China's leading music IP operation and production company, partnered with Peanut Animation for the Sad Frog x AKOMA nightclub Qixi pop-up event in 2021 (3,000 sqm venue, 3,000+ attendees, 10M+ RMB single-night sales). Modern Sky also participated in the 'digital collectible second half' industry salon alongside Peanut Animation.
• Head Idol (头号偶像)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHead Idol (头号偶像) operates the Head Collection platform and participated in the 'digital collectible second half' industry salon alongside Peanut Animation, Baidu, and Modern Sky. Head Idol is noted for their 'Chinese version Bored Ape' digital IP project.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AZUKI: Anime-style NFT collection with $500M+ trading volume that Peanut Animation explicitly licenses/holds. Directly comparable as a peer NFT IP brand pursuing commercial licensing, merchandise, and brand collaborations.
• 52TOYS: Chinese trendy toy and IP licensing company designing collectible figures and brand collaborations. Comparable as a Chinese IP-toy licensing peer competing for the same brand-partnership and Gen-Z consumer wallet.
• POP MART: China's leading trendy toy and IP merchandise company. Directly comparable as both firms monetize owned/licensed character IPs (Peanut's Sad Frog/Three-Body vs. POP MART's Molly/SKULLPANDA) through co-branded merchandise, retail pop-ups, and licensing to consumer brands.
• Yuga Labs (BAYC): Creator of the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection, which Peanut Animation explicitly holds/licenses. Yuga Labs is the benchmark for the NFT-IP + commercial-licensing model that Peanut's Sad Frog digital assets emulate, with utility-backed IP rights for holders.
• Alpha Group (奥飞娱乐): A-share listed Chinese animation and IP company behind properties like Super Wings. Comparable as a vertically integrated animation/IP/licensing/merchandise peer targeting young Chinese consumers.
• Feng Yuzhu (风语筑): A-share listed (603466.SH) digital new media company specializing in CG visual, VR/AR/XR, and immersive content. Both co-developed Peanut's Sad Frog AIGC interactive experience and operate immersive IP exhibitions (e.g., Three-Body), making Feng Yuzhu a direct competitor and strategic partner.

Broad incumbents

• Sanrio: Japanese IP owner/licensor of Hello Kitty and related character brands. Comparable as an established IP licensing incumbent with a global merchandise and brand collaboration model analogous to Peanut's broader IP licensing operations.
• Yat Siung / Bytedance Douyin e-commerce ecosystem players: While Douyin itself is a platform, agencies operating brand accounts at scale on Douyin (similar to Peanut's Anta, CEMOY, Ble de Fonty operations) are direct competitors for the same brand marketing and live-streaming budgets.

Others

• Bilibili (B站): Major Chinese digital content platform and distributor of anime/IP content. Comparable as a content/IP ecosystem player that Peanut's CEO previously invested in; serves as a potential distribution channel for Peanut's IP content.

Regional players

• Modern Sky (摩登天空): China's leading music IP operator that partnered with Peanut for the Sad Frog x AKOMA Qixi pop-up. Comparable as a peer IP-driven pop-up/music festival operator targeting young Chinese consumers with physical activations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/peanutlive

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Zhejiang Peanut Life Animation Co.