- The micro-drama industry in China is accelerating sharply thanks to AI and state subsidies, putting immense pressure on international companies.
- Vigloo (South Korea) has allocated 30% of its budget to AI, helping shorten production time from 3 months to just 1 month.
- Production costs have dropped to one-fifth of previous levels, allowing for more content creation and experimentation across diverse genres.
- AI agents have started taking over scriptwriting, after which humans only need to edit and censor.
- Micro-dramas (vertical short films) consist of many 1–2 minute episodes, often ending with a cliffhanger to keep viewers engaged.
- This format exploded during the Covid-19 pandemic and is referred to as “TV for the TikTok generation.”
- China is a pioneer, with approximately 660 million domestic viewers by 2024.
- State support helps Chinese companies expand rapidly, optimize costs, and engage in mass production.
- International competitors like Vigloo, despite adopting AI, feel increasingly intense competitive pressure.
- The AI trend in content production is completely transforming filmmaking, from speed to cost.
📌 Conclusion: The micro-drama industry is booming thanks to AI and China’s strong support strategy, with 660 million viewers in 2024 alone. Reducing costs to one-fifth and shortening production time to 1 month demonstrates a superior advantage. AI not only supports but also directly participates in content creation, making global competition in the digital entertainment sector more fierce.
