China backs live-action dramas as AI-made micro-dramas dominate releases

China's audiovisual regulators on Thursday voiced support for live-action dramas in the face of AI-made productions accounting for more than 90% of the country's micro-dramas released in the first eight months of 2026.

"Our position is clear: live-action dramas are the mainstay of quality productions and should receive strong support," said Wang Xiaoliang, an official with the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), at a news conference on the sector over the next five years.

Authorities will step up the implementation of a program to support the production and distribution of quality works, guide platforms to create dedicated sections for live-action dramas, and provide financial support to ensure that such productions find an audience and generate returns, according to Wang.

His remarks came as micro-dramas – series whose episodes run for less than 20 minutes – have surged in popularity in China and gained a growing following overseas.

Official data show China released 430,000 micro-dramas from January to August, 13 times the number released in all of 2025. The country now has more than 800 million micro-drama viewers, while the market exceeded 100 billion yuan (around $14.8 billion) in 2025.

Chinese regulators, however, are not opposed to using AI in screen production.

AI technology has opened new possibilities for creative expression in micro-dramas, while helping cut costs and improve efficiency, but it has also posed challenges for content quality and the protection of rights and interests, Wang said.

Such dramas must carry clear content labels, and efforts are underway to push platforms to follow rules on authorizing the use of people's likenesses and voices, he added.

China identified micro-dramas as an emerging form of cultural business to be vigorously developed in its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

The country implemented a policy document on the development and management of micro-dramas on September 1, while introducing a unified label as part of efforts to bring the sector under proper regulation.

At the news conference on Thursday, officials said China will step up efforts to expand the global reach of micro-dramas, leveraging AI to strengthen their leading edge in overseas markets.

Chinese micro-dramas have gained popularity in more than 200 countries and regions, accounting for more than 80% of the overseas micro-drama market, according to He Biao, deputy head and spokesperson of the NRTA.

Shao Jiang, an associate professor at Beijing Union University, said Chinese micro-dramas are shifting from a scale-driven approach focused on downloads and paid traffic to one centered on content, intellectual property and cultural resonance.

Released late last year, Chinese micro-drama ENEMY quickly climbed the trending drama charts in the United States, Mexico, Thailand and other countries and regions, and many overseas viewers took to social media to dissect the plot and discuss its cultural details.

The micro-drama weaves traditional Chinese cultural elements, including opera and ancient architecture, into key moments in the story rather than presenting them as standalone cultural showcases, allowing viewers from different backgrounds to appreciate their appeal as the plot unfolds.

In the early stages, most exported productions relied on translated versions of Chinese hits. Now, more companies are shifting toward locally produced content overseas, working with local partners in casting and production to better integrate into target markets.

Technology is giving Chinese micro-dramas a digital boost overseas, according to industry insiders. AI is being used in scriptwriting, visual effects, multilingual dubbing and audience analysis, significantly improving production and distribution efficiency.

Li Ruoqie, head of a micro-drama production company, said his team entered the North American market in May and has since completed eight productions. An AI micro-drama about vampires has surpassed 15 million views on TikTok.

"AI micro-dramas featuring Western elements such as vampires and werewolves cater to North American audiences' interest in gothic romance and supernatural stories, while costing far less to produce than live-action dramas," Li said.

Liu Xingliang, a digital economy scholar, said AI tools reduce the cost of operating across languages and cultures while improving the efficiency of large-scale content production and optimization.

He added that AI is also playing a growing role in creative processes, including script development, scene design and editing, reshaping the industry's cost structure and making it easier to tailor content to different markets.