When Ne Zha 2 stormed the box office, it wasn't just animators burning the midnight oil,dozens of Dongguan-based toy factories also shifted into hyperdrive.

Before the Spring Festival,Wogongchang, a Dongguan-based manufacturer, finalized the production plan for 10,000 sets (300,000 units) of Ne Zha 2 merchandise in just 3 days.Meanwhile, Henglitai delivered over 300,000 units by early January.But neither of them could’ve predicted the tsunami of demand ahead:Wogongchang's orders exploded 500-fold,while Henglitai faced a million-unit follow-up wave.

Why Dongguan?

Emerging during China's reform and opening era,Dongguan has grown into the "Capital of Pop Toy Universe,"home to over 4,000 toy manufacturers,and 1,500 suppliers along the supply chain.Today, 1 in every 3 collectibles is made in Dongguan,Solidifying its status as the No. 1 hub of designer toys.

In recent years,Dongguan's industrial output for pop toys has grown steadily,hitting nearly 20 billion yuan in 2023.“Dongguan speed” also cemented its dominance.When tasked with creating molds for Ne Zha 2 merchandise,Weisi Company allied with 12 factories to form a "task force,"developing 100 molds in just 10 days—80% faster in development and 83% faster in manufacturing compared to previous projects.And finished products reached consumers in under 20 days.