TAICCA Aims to Boost Cultural Influence with Taiwan's Original IPs on the International Stage

(CNA reporter Huang Tzu-chiang, Kuala Lumpur, 21st) The 2nd Taiwan IP Expo in Malaysia has begun. Yang Chung-tien, Vice President of the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA), stated today that Taiwan's graphic IPs and character management are mature, with original IPs emphasizing worldview, emotional connection, and storytelling. He hopes for more Taiwanese original characters to reach the international stage, enhancing the influence of the cultural content industry. He also expressed his hope to use Malaysia as a strategic starting point to establish a cooperation model for expanding Taiwan's IP into the Southeast Asian market. The Taiwan Creative Content Agency, in collaboration with the Malaysian Creative Intellectual Property Association (MYCIP), is holding the '2026 Taiwan IP Expo' starting from the 20th for a five-day period. The event connects the content industries of Taiwan and Malaysia, gathers 12 popular Taiwanese character IPs, and features a joint creative exhibition with Malaysian IPs. In an interview with CNA at the exhibition, Yang Chung-tien said that this is the second time the Taiwan IP Expo has been held in Malaysia. One of its main features is the collaboration between 12 Taiwanese creators and their Malaysian counterparts on joint works. Through cross-regional creative exchange, this combines the creative energy and market potential of both sides, serving as a key demonstration case for Taiwan-Malaysia IP cooperation. He pointed out that Taiwanese graphic IPs often started on social media platforms, initially attracting attention with their visual style and character design. Yang believes the key to long-term IP management is not just the character's appearance, but whether it can create an emotional resonance with the audience. Through story content and character settings, consumers can feel a sense of companionship and identification in their daily lives. Even when feeling down, seeing the character can bring a smile. 'This emotional connection,' he said, 'is the core of brand value.' As Taiwan is relatively mature in graphic IP licensing and character management, Yang believes this is a significant advantage for Taiwanese IPs entering the international market. In recent years, TAICCA has been assisting in the branding and internationalization of Taiwanese IPs through exhibitions, counseling, and overseas promotion. He pointed out that analysis and comparison with major international IPs from Japan, South Korea, and the United States show that Taiwanese original IPs, in contrast, place more emphasis on character worldview, emotional connection, and narrative development. This is an important experience that Taiwan can share with Malaysia. Yang believes that as businesses gradually understand that an IP is not just a character image but a way to interact with consumers through emotional resonance and worldview building, they will be more willing to collaborate with IPs, further enhancing brand value and market influence. This exhibition presents a variety of original IPs, covering themes like a universe of furry pets and healing daily life