(Source: https://pltfrm.com.cn)
Introduction
The future of brand storytelling arrived yesterday—virtual humans with decade-long backstories now outperform real celebrities in loyalty and cost efficiency. Innovative brand storytelling in China has entered its IP era, where brands own characters instead of renting fame. Here are the playbooks from the frontier.
- Virtual Human Creation & Launch Strategy
1.1 Full IP Stack from Day One Design Stack: 3D model + voice bank + personality matrix + 10-year storyline bible + legal copyright registration. Skipping any layer causes future crises. Origin Story Drop: Launch with a 3-minute Douyin animated short revealing tragic backstory—never a product ad. Emotional investment first, sales second.
1.2 Multi-Platform Identity System Douyin = energetic public persona, Xiaohongshu = vulnerable private posts, WeChat = wise one-on-one chats, Bilibili = lore documentaries. Fans love the feeling of knowing “all sides” of the character.
- Real-Time Story Evolution Engine
2.1 Fan-Voted Plot Branches Weekly Decision Points: Every Sunday, the virtual human posts three possible next-week events. Highest-voted choice becomes canon Monday morning. This gives genuine ownership—fans literally write the story.
2.2 AI-Powered Daily Content 24/7 Presence: Use AI to generate personalized replies to every fan comment while maintaining character voice. Top virtual humans respond to 100,000+ comments monthly without breaking character.
- IP Monetization Without Breaking Immersion
3.1 Story-First Product Integration Diegetic Products: Only sell items that exist within the story world (the sword the hero uses, the lipstick she wore during the final battle). Never break the fourth wall with “buy now” messaging. Limited Canon Drops: Release products only when the storyline logically demands it. Scarcity feels natural, not manufactured. - Cross-Brand Universe Collaborations
4.1 Shared Story Worlds IP Alliance Model: Two or three non-competing brands create shared universe events (e.g., virtual idol A visits virtual idol B’s world). Combined fanbases explode reach geometrically.
Case Study: AYAYI × L’Oréal Paris “Eternal Youth” Saga 2025
Hyper-realistic virtual human AYAYI was introduced as an immortal being searching for the meaning of aging. Over 18 months, she aged visibly on Xiaohongshu while testing L’Oréal products, documenting emotional struggles in WeChat articles. Fans voted on whether she should accept mortality. The final “Youth Reborn” serum launched the day she chose to stay young—selling 1 million units in 4 hours at 1,299 RMB and making AYAYI the highest-earning virtual human in China.
Conclusion
Innovative brand storytelling in China has evolved from campaigns to civilizations. Own your characters, let fans write the future, and integrate commerce so seamlessly that buying feels like participating in destiny. The brands building virtual empires today will own Chinese consumer hearts tomorrow.
PLTFRM is an international brand consulting agency that works with companies such as Red, TikTok, Tmall, Baidu, and other well-known Chinese internet e-commerce platforms. We have been working with Chile Cherries for many years, reaching Chinese consumers in depth through different platforms and realizing that Chile Cherries’ exports in China account for 97% of the total exports in Asia. Contact us, and we will help you find the best China e-commerce platform for you. Search PLTFRM for a free consultation! info@pltfrm.cn
