This year, Taiwan is making its first-ever appearance at the Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K), presenting a selection of established and emerging IPs to the European market.
Organised by the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) under the brand Taiwan Content Island, Taiwan has actively showcased its original IPs at international licensing expos, gaining traction particularly in Japan and Korea. Now, with its debut at BLTF/K, Taiwan aims to introduce its diverse range of stories and characters to a wider audience, fostering new partnerships.
Taiwanese creators continue to gain international recognition for their visual storytelling and literary achievements. At this year’s Illustrators Exhibition at BCBF, Chang Hsiaochi and Ballboss were selected as Winning Illustrators, standing out among 4,374 applicants from 88 countries.
In the literary world, three Taiwanese authors have been nominated for the 2025 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA), the world’s largest award for children’s and young adult literature. Among them, Chang Yeou-Yu and Liu Hsu-Kung are attending BCBF, alongside rising illustrators Lin Wei-Ting, Liu Wei-Ting (Dong Dong), and Tsai Pei-Jung (A-Meow).
Taiwan has emerged as a key player in the Asian licensing market. With a strong tradition of storytelling and a growing portfolio of adaptable content, it offers international buyers at Bologna Children’s Book Fair a rich and untapped source of creative talent.
It is showcasing three licensing-ready brands with strong commercial appeal and cross-industry adaptability to Europe:
- Takokuma (below left) – A brand that has successfully entered the Japanese and Korean markets, with collaborations on products ranging from cosmetics to toys. Takokuma is also venturing into animation and will be featured at international events in the US and Malaysia.
- Jimmy Liao: The Moon Forgets (below centre) – One of Taiwan’s most internationally recognised artists, Jimmy Liao’s picture books have been translated into over 20 languages. The brand has since expanded, collaborating with more than 40 licensees to produce over 300 products, and is now actively seeking opportunities for film and television adaptations.
- My Little Boys: A-Nee-Gu (below right) – Inspired by Taiwanese literature, this family-friendly IP began as an animation project, earning over 80 recognitions at festivals worldwide. It later branched out into picture books, comics, stage productions and children’s shows, making it well-suited for cross-platform adaptation.
Taiwan’s participation in both BCBF and BLTF/K this year signals a broader commitment to international collaboration in publishing and licensing. TAICCA has scheduled nearly 100 meetings, engaging with industry professionals worldwide and extending invitations for fellowship programmes at upcoming expos in Taiwan.
For more details, visit:
- Taiwan Pavilion at BCBF
- Taiwan’s IP catalogues
