Influencing the future

"In the future, we will release a short sitcom series, which will unveil Yi's background and her life," Song says.

Born on Jan 12, 2001, Yi will "go to the Sichuan Conservatory of Music" soon, a designed plot for the character that will lay a foundation for her to expand her "career" as a singer and dancer, and encounter friendship, loss and love, just like every teenager does, according to Song.

After a year of development, a 3D version of Yi was released last month. With one blue and one brown eye, she wears a pair of headphones around her neck and two panda-shaped hairpins.

"Many brands have registered their interest in cooperating with us, but we are careful in inking a deal," Song says, adding that it depends on what will be good for Yi's career. Last year, on her Douyin, Yi promoted products ranging from facial creams to video games. "This year, there will be cooperation between Yi and some bigger brands," Song says.

Song says she hopes that within the year, Yi will have accrued 20 million followers. Currently, about 57 percent of Yi's followers are male and about 40 percent of the character's total fans are aged between 18 and 25.

"My team has injected love and passion into the program. I see Yi as my daughter and accompany her every day as she grows up," Song says.