"The 14th Animation Support Program" Officially Launched

Empowering 15 Local Enterprises with Up to HKD 600,000 Funding Each
Fostering Local Originality to Boost Hong Kong's Global Animation Competitiveness

HONG KONG, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Organised by the Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA) and fully supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) as the lead sponsor, the Animation Support Program (ASP) has long been dedicated to deep-cultivating the local animation ecosystem and nurturing local start-up and small animation enterprises. Through multi-dimensional support—including funding injection, technical upgrade, specialised training, and market publicity—ASP fully unlocks the creative potential of original Hong Kong animations, assisting enterprises in elevating work quality and market presence, thereby laying a solid foundation for the diverse and sustainable growth of the local industry.

The Launch Ceremony of "The 14th Animation Support Program" was held today to officially unveil the latest cohort of 15 selected companies. Miss. Yvonne IP Man-yee, Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries, attended as the officiating guest and jointly hosted the launch ceremony with Mr. Gabriel Pang, Chairman of HKDEA. Representatives from past participating companies were also present to share practical industry insights and inject vital momentum into the new cohort. Members of the Program Committee, Selection Committee, mentor panel, and supporting organisations attended to witness a brilliant new milestone for Hong Kong's animation sector.

Entering its 14th edition, ASP features three distinct tiers tailored to meet the specific needs of companies at different growth stages: Tier One focuses on cultivating promising local start-ups, while Tiers Two and Three offer advanced resources and commercial guidance to established small enterprises. This year, a total of 15 outstanding animation enterprises stood out with their exceptional creativity. Each selected company will receive a funding subsidy of up to HKD 600,000 based on their tier, alongside a comprehensive incubation package comprising cutting-edge technical training, software application courses, and business operation guidance. ASP also continues its Mentorship Program, inviting veteran animation directors and industry experts to provide one-on-one guidance in refining script development, art direction, and post-production. All selected works will be prominently showcased at prestigious international platforms such as the "Hong Kong International Film and TV Market (FILMART) 2027", presenting the unique charm of original Hong Kong animations to global buyers and audiences while actively driving cross-industry collaboration and overseas distribution opportunities.

Mr. Gabriel Pang, Chairman of HKDEA, stated: "Hong Kong animation must not only display creativity but also move towards commercialisation and marketability. Through the technical support and professional guidance provided by ASP, we hope to assist the selected companies in transforming high-quality original concepts into commercially valuable works. We look forward to seeing these outstanding companies shine on international platforms, forge more cross-industry collaborations, and unlock new distribution opportunities to pave a new way forward for Hong Kong's animation industry."

8 companies have been selected for the Animation Star-ups category, together with 5 companies in the Basic Productions category and 2 companies in the Advanced Productions category. Each company can receive financial support ranging from HKD 130,000 to HKD 600,000 depending on their respective tiers to produce subsidised animation. The funding amount and the required animation length are as follows:

For more details about the 14th ASP and a review of the original creative animations produced under the previous ASP, please visit the official website: www.animation-ssp.com

Notes to Editors:

List of Participating Companies of the "14th Animation Support Program"
(in company names' alphabetical order)

Tier 1: Animation Start-ups

Tier 2: Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Basic Productions

Tier 3: Small Animation Enterprises with Training in Advanced Productions

About Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association (HKDEA)

Established in 1999, HKDEA is a non-profit organization aiming to promote digital entertainment development in Hong Kong. Its mission points toward the achievement of the following goals - boosting prosperity of the digital entertainment industry by foster cooperation among local developers; opening up and development of digital market; enhancement of local technology as so to raise the competitiveness of Hong Kong production; promoting communication between digital entertainment industry and related ones such as toys, entertainment and visual games; building a favourable image for digital entertainment; and protection of intellectual property right and scrapping counterfeit products.

For more information, please visit HKDEA's website at www.hkdea.org

About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA)

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024.  CCIDA is  a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries.  CCIDA's strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia's creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

Photo download: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1LDdHL2RD8gsm2Z71anFGzhi9uh7Cl-bD?usp=sharing

SOURCE The Hong Kong Digital Entertainment Association