AHAVERSE has unveiled several new initiatives aimed at expanding the Scissor Seven universe beyond animation, including the launch of its new publishing imprint AHABOOKS, the announcement of the Cheap-Life Hua spin-off manhua, and the debut of Chicken Island Party, a new annual live music event. The projects were revealed during the company’s New World Premiere showcase at BilibiliWorld 2026 as part of its multimedia expansion strategy.
One of the major announcements is AHABOOKS, a new publishing and story development initiative designed to support creators while expanding AHAVERSE’s original intellectual properties through new stories and worldbuilding.
According to the company, AHABOOKS will help cultivate future projects across the AHAVERSE portfolio, with a focus on developing original stories beyond animation. To mark its launch, an AHABOOKS 2026 Commemorative Issue will debut at BilibiliWorld 2026, with wider distribution details to be announced at a later date.
The first title announced under the imprint is Cheap-Life Hua, a new Scissor Seven spin-off manhua centered on the popular character Hua. Presented in collected tankobon format, the series will expand the franchise through new standalone stories set within its universe. The first volume is currently scheduled for release in Q1 2027.
AHAVERSE also revealed Chicken Island Party, an annual live music event inspired by the world of Scissor Seven. Rather than recreating familiar soundtrack performances, the event will feature newly arranged interpretations, remixes, and original musical explorations of songs from the franchise, creating a new way for fans to celebrate the series together.
The publishing and live event announcements accompany several other projects unveiled during the showcase, including Scissor Seven: The Movie coming 2028, the spin-off animated series HEIBAI, and an official action-adventure mobile game, all of which form part of AHAVERSE’s long-term vision for the franchise.
AHAVERSE founder and Chief IP Officer Aiken Zou said the company’s goal is to build an interconnected entertainment ecosystem rather than simply release individual projects.
“Today is not about announcing a collection of separate projects. It is about showing how stories can grow into worlds, through new characters, new adventures, and new creative voices. Our goal is to give global audiences more worlds to return to, while creating opportunities for creators to help shape the stories of tomorrow.”
Since debuting in 2018, Scissor Seven has grown into one of China’s most internationally recognized animation franchises. The series became the first Chinese original animation to launch as a Netflix Original, reaching viewers in more than 190 countries, attracting over 40 million fans worldwide, and surpassing 30 billion views across platforms. Today, the franchise extends beyond animation through comics, games, music, consumer products, and live experiences, with AHAVERSE continuing to grow it as a long-term multimedia universe.
Additional information on AHABOOKS, Cheap-Life Hua, and Chicken Island Party is expected to be announced in the coming months.
More than a publishing label
We spoke with the AHAVERSE team about the thinking behind AHABOOKS and its role in the wider franchise. Asked whether the imprint is mainly about publishing side stories or something bigger, the team said:
“AHABOOKS is much more than a publishing label. We see it as a long-term creative development platform where new stories, new creators and new ideas can grow together.
For the Scissor Seven universe specifically, AHABOOKS plays an important role in expanding the canon in a thoughtful and coherent way. It gives us the space to explore characters, histories and parts of the world that may not naturally fit within an animated series or film, while maintaining a strong narrative foundation for future projects.
Looking further ahead, we also hope AHABOOKS becomes a place where entirely new original IP can be incubated alongside Scissor Seven. Great stories can begin as books or manhua, before naturally evolving into animation, games, films or other experiences as they continue to grow.”
On why Cheap-Life Hua was chosen as the imprint’s debut title, AHAVERSE explained:
“Cheap-Life Hua was a natural choice because he’s one of the most intriguing characters introduced in the later seasons. Audiences know him as a seemingly carefree wanderer, but gradually realise he’s one of the most powerful figures in Xuanwu. Exploring his past doesn’t simply answer questions about Cheap-Life Hua himself, it also reveals important parts of Xuanwu’s history and the larger forces that shaped the world long before Seven’s journey began.”
Asked about the thinking behind Chicken Island Party’s remix-driven approach, rather than a more straightforward tribute concert, the team said:
“Chicken Island Party allows fans to experience Scissor Seven beyond the screen through music, community and shared celebration.
Rather than simply recreating familiar tracks, we’re inviting different musicians and DJs to reinterpret the franchise’s music each year, giving audiences something both fresh and familiar. We hope it becomes an annual tradition where every edition offers a new creative perspective while remaining unmistakably Scissor Seven.”
Read our full interview with the AHAVERSE team on the future of the Scissor Seven universe.
Source: Press Release, AHAVERSE Interview
© AHAVERSE丨AHA Entertainment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
© AHAVERSE丨AHA Entertainment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. & SHAREFUN Studio. All Rights
Reserved.
Participate In Discussions