Many believe that “hobbies cannot sustain a living” and should not be pursued as a career. However, Sion Yip, the Founder of Incubase Studio, defies this notion by integrating his passion for anime and manga into his business. Recently, he achieved a dream come true by obtaining the rights to the popular anime series One Piece from Toei Animation and creating a themed exhibition.

During their teenage years, many people read comics and watched animations, often having a favorite series and even fantasizing about being part of it. Sion, who studied art & design and film, shares this sentiment, saying, “I’m a typical ‘otaku’ (anime and manga fan). I immersed myself in the world of anime and manga from a young age, which is one of the reasons why I decided to pursue this direction.” After graduation, he entered the exhibition design and planning industry, where he also began working in IP licensing.

Over the past 20 years, Sion has curated over a hundred licensed events, including mall promotions, collaborations with artists, and large-scale indoor and outdoor events. He has also collaborated with internationally renowned brands such as Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, and Sanrio. Recently, he spent over two years obtaining the rights to One Piece from Toei Animation and created a touring exhibition in Asia for it.

Investing 20 Million, Expected Returns of Up to 100 Million
Sion revealed that the One Piece “The Great Era of Piracy” Exhibition Asia Tour will debut in Hong Kong and feature three main themed scenes in application of 3D and VR technologies, allowing fans to immerse themselves and be part of the story. The exhibition will cover an area of over 10,000 square feet and has an investment of HK$20 million. Sion plans to expand to seven regions and locations in the next two years, including mainland China, Thailand and Indonesia.

When asked about his confidence in the project, Sion mentioned that the allure of Japanese anime is greater than people imagine. He cited the example of a popup store for Demon Slayer in Hong Kong in 2020, which generated sales of HK$5-6 million in just one month.

Given that One Piece is already considered one of the most popular anime series globally, he believes the exhibition can attract 500,000 visitors and generate HK$100 million in revenue.

“Watch Anime” During Work Hours to Better Understand the Story
It is well-known that Japan has strict copyright regulations. However, Toei Animation’s decision to entrust the One Piece rights to Incubase Studio for the exhibition is a significant breakthrough.

Sion believes that their passion for One Piece and their approach to curating exhibitions from a fan’s perspective played a role in gaining Toei Animation’s trust.

He emphasized that the goal of the exhibition is to create an immersive experience for visitors. Therefore, the company always approaches curation from a fan’s perspective.

Sion even requires his colleagues to be well-versed in the anime’s content and allows them to watch episodes during work hours.

Sion also revealed that Incubase Studio is currently working on various IP licensing projects, including a collaboration with a Hollywood film company to create a new horror movie experience.

He pointed out that while Japanese companies are often perceived to have strict licensing restrictions, the limitations imposed by Western companies are even greater. He explained that most Japanese companies place great importance on staying true to the original work and pay close attention to product and character designs. As long as both parties communicate effectively and maintain the integrity of the original work, different ideas can be considered. On the other hand, Western companies have a broader international perspective and often have detailed plans in place before creating a character, considering their own ecosystem and potential derivative works. This makes it more challenging to break free from their established frameworks.

《Hong Kong Economic Times》：Click to read original feature