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How Chinese short dramas became AI content machines
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In a dimly lit bedroom, a frightened young woman is thrown onto a bed by a tall, muscular man.
Key facts
- Producing a short drama in North America once cost roughly $200,000, but AI can cut that cost by 80% to 90%, according to Tang
- Research firm Omdia estimates that the global microdrama market reached $11 billion in 2025 and will grow to $14 billion by the end of 2026
- In April 2025, she sold her first short-drama script for around 20,000 yuan (approximately $2,945)
- MIT Technology Review's authoritative overview of the 10 technologies, emerging trends, bold ideas, and powerful movements in AI in 2026
Summary
“Two months,” the man says. The scene is from Carrying the Dragon King’s Baby, one of the many hundreds of short dramas that appear on apps like DramaWave and ReelShort. That’s because Carrying the Dragon King’s Baby is part of a new trend for making these shows entirely with AI: no actors, camera operators, cinematographers, or CGI specialists required. China’s short drama industry has boomed since its launch, in 2018. In 2024, China’s short drama market reached roughly $6.9 billion in revenue, surpassing the country’s annual box office earnings for the first time.