The Secret Behind Viral Micro-Dramas
On November 11, 2025, the 3rd Hangzhou Micro-Drama Conference kicked off in spectacular fashion, featuring two major segments: “Keynote Dialogue: Industry Development and Premium Innovation” and “Cross-Border Exchange: Decoding the New Industry Trend.” Government officials, corporate representatives, scholars, and industry pioneers gathered in Linping to explore core topics such as quality upgrades, cross-industry integration, and standardized development in micro-dramas, forging a new blueprint for high-quality growth and cross-sector empowerment in this emerging industry poised to exceed 100 billion in scale.
Keynote Dialogue: Industry Development and Premium Innovation
Today, the rapid adoption of AIGC technology is seen as a key driver for sustained growth in the micro-drama industry.
During the “Keynote Dialogue: Industry Development and Premium Innovation” segment, the fully AI-produced historical fantasy micro-drama Lonely City Lights: The Unexpected made a stunning debut, showcasing how new digital productivity injects fresh energy into traditional film and TV creation.
Yang Da, screenwriter of Mountains, Seas, and Stars, remarked:
"Technological innovation indeed drives the evolution of audiovisual storytelling. The purely AI-generated promo we just saw is eye-catching, but at the heart of content is always the story. Audiences have moved past purely emotional catharsis; aesthetic fatigue now pushes creators to elevate from emotional expression to emotional resonance, ultimately aiming to convey deeper sentiments. This is the key to producing premium works."
Where will the next micro-drama hit come from? Market trends may offer a clue. Among the seven micro-dramas that broke 1 billion views in October, Tinghua Island, a leading production company, accounted for four. They focus on life-themed situational micro-dramas and IP management, producing widely popular works such as Home and Beyond.
Tinghua Island’s executive producer Zhao Youxiu shared his thoughts on returning to content-driven creation:
"The micro-drama industry is evolving rapidly. Only by focusing on content and amplifying core strengths can companies secure their position. Everyday life is the foundation of creation, and we will continue to uphold the commitment to high-quality content, working hand in hand with peers to ensure steady and sustainable industry growth."
Cross-Border Exchange: Decoding the New Industry Trend
If producing premium content is the foundation of micro-dramas, then cross-industry integration and technological empowerment have become the core engines driving breakthrough growth in the sector.
During the evening segment “Cross-Border Exchange: Decoding the New Industry Trend,” data insights, international practices, creative tips, and technological innovations collided in a multi-dimensional exchange, revealing the evolution of micro-dramas—from local hits to global exports, and from live-action productions to diverse formats.
Domestic data from 2025 shows a sharp rise in native comic-style micro-dramas on Douyin in the second half of the year. By October, viewership had tripled compared to July, and the number of ongoing series in the past five months exceeded 4,500, with 1,020 in fantasy and xianxia genres. This explosive growth has provided fertile ground for AIGC technology adoption. In the session “AIGC + Comic Dramas = The Next Hot Trend,” industry experts agreed that AI now covers the full creative pipeline—from script generation and storyboarding to intelligent editing—unlocking both productivity and creativity.
Sharing the creation process of phenomenal hits offered replicable examples for the industry. The Zhejiang-produced short drama Midsummer Fendela became a sensation this year, breaking 100 million in both platform heat index and total views within 24 hours, and surpassing 3 billion views shortly after. Lead actress Guo Yuxin reflected on the production:
"Filming felt like an immersive ‘murder mystery game.’ Every detail, from precise character emotions to deeply integrated scene atmosphere, drew me completely in. Behind this was a team repeatedly refining the script, as well as meticulous preparation in costumes, sets, and props. It’s this commitment to quality that truly moves the audience."
Another hit, The Swindler, marked lead actress Liu Fanfei’s first foray into micro-dramas. She believes the success of short dramas in “breaking out” relies on a solid textual core and genuine performance.
"Only high-quality works that withstand market scrutiny can achieve lasting reach and create deep emotional resonance with viewers," Liu said.
In addition, the conference featured a sharing session on overseas micro-drama strategies in 2025, along with a breakdown of the core logic and practical secrets behind producing and distributing comic-style dramas.
From the keynote dialogue’s commitment to premium content to the cross-border exchange’s exploration of innovative paths, participants gathered insights, forged consensus, and empowered industry upgrades through the collision of ideas and practical sharing. The next stage for micro-dramas lies in the deep integration of technology and creativity, the reciprocal journey from local hits to global storytelling, and the ongoing evolution from traffic-driven content to a high-quality ecosystem.
As Li Jiang, Executive President of Dianzong Technology, put it:
"What we deliver is not just content, but a new form of cultural expression. What we produce is not just micro-dramas, but the narrative wisdom of Chinese people in this era."
(Linping Release)