How Chinese Short Dramas are Transforming into AI Content Engines
A scene depicts a young woman, terrified, being thrown onto a bed by a muscular man. The man grabs her hand, and fiery vines instantly creep and merge with her flesh. She floats, then falls, as a dragon-shaped tattoo appears on her chest. “Two months,” the man says. “Give me an heir, or I will eat you.”
At first glance, this dramatic scene from the series Carrying the Dragon King’s Baby appears to be a typical melodrama found on apps like DramaWave and ReelShort. However, there is a strange visual quality to the footage, feeling like a cross between a film and a video game cutscene. This peculiarity stems from a staggering fact: the series was created entirely using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. There were no actors, no camera operators, no directors, and no visual effects (CGI) specialists involved in its production.
This represents the new face of the Chinese short drama (dracin) entertainment industry, which is now being increasingly driven by AI engines. The Chinese drama industry has become a massive phenomenon since its initial explosion in 2018. These hyper-melodramatic shows, sometimes featuring adult content, are specifically designed for smartphone screens. The duration is extremely short, averaging only one to two minutes, allowing viewers to finish an entire season in just 30 to 60 minutes. This “micro-soap opera” content is crafted with adrenaline-pumping plots and frequent twists to keep viewers scrolling.
In 2024, the market value of short dramas was reported to have reached $6.9 billion USD, surpassing the annual revenue of China’s feature film industry for the first time. Not content with domestic success, Chinese short drama companies began expanding overseas in 2022. They translate popular works and produce local series using local actors. The United States has now become the largest foreign market, contributing approximately 50 per cent of total global revenue according to research firm DataEye. This year, Omdia estimates that the global micro-drama market will reach $14 billion USD.