Video-sharing and entertainment platform, Bilibili has announced a new strategic content collaboration with STARZPLAY, bringing a curated slate of premium Chinese animation titles – known as donghua – to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Originally rooted in anime, comics and gaming (ACG) culture, Bilibili is widely recognised for its strong appeal among Gen Z and millennial audiences, with more than 100 million daily active users, 86 per cent of whom are under the age of 35.
The deal aims to strengthen STARZPLAY’s animation offering with a broader variety choice for younger, digitally native audiences in MENA.
“Animation is one of the fastest-growing content categories globally, driven by younger audiences seeking diverse storytelling and distinct creative styles,” said Danny Bates, Co-Founder and COO at STARZPLAY. “In MENA, we’re seeing that interest accelerate. Through our partnership with Bilibili, we’re introducing premium donghua to the region at scale. This aims to broaden our content mix beyond traditional genres to reflect how viewing tastes across the region are evolving.”
As part of the collaboration, STARZPLAY subscribers can expect a new donghua title premiere every Tuesday. All content will be available with English and Arabic subtitles, ensuring broad accessibility for regional audiences.
Key titles recently launched on STARZPLAY as part of this partnership include:
- To Be Hero X
- No Doubt in Us
- A Mortal’s Journey
- Ling Cage
- Immortality
“We are pleased to partner with STARZPLAY to bring Bilibili’s animation content to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa,” said Mr. Zhang Shengyan, Vice President of Bilibili. “In recent years, interest in donghua has grown rapidly, and this collaboration allows us to introduce the genre’s storytelling, characters, and creative worlds to viewers in the region through a platform that understands local audiences and their viewing preferences.”
The partnership aims to reinforce STARZPLAY’s broader content strategy to partner with leading global platforms and studios, expanding its offering beyond conventional genres while responding to evolving audience tastes across the region.
