Summary of Key Points
Recently, there has been a clear differentiation within the AI short drama industry: on one hand, some unauthorized AI bloggers have stopped updating due to new platform regulations, coupled with the plummeting revenue from individual dramas (with earnings per million views falling below 10 yuan) and an extremely low rate of hit dramas (less than 0.5%). This has led to a high level of anxiety within the industry. On the other hand, series-based AI short dramas have become a “hit-making machine” – not only have they repeatedly broken viewing records (for example, the second season of “Our Family's Sword Sect’s Favorite Little Sister” reached 6 billion views in 15 days), but they also dominate the top charts on various platforms, with some series going up to 23 seasons. The competition in the industry has shifted from a focus on individual hits to a battle for series IPs. However, series-based AI short dramas are still some way from becoming true IPs.
Why Have Series-Based AI Short Dramas Become a “Lifesaver”?
In simple terms, it’s a result of the industry’s inherent challenges forcing this change:
- The risk associated with individual dramas is too high; series are more stable: No one can guarantee the success of a single AI short drama before it’s released, but if one becomes a hit, the theme, characters, and plot have already been tested by the market, increasing the chances of the next season being successful (for instance, a drama that attracts 70 million views could easily maintain that level in the next season).
- Audiences prefer to follow familiar characters and stories: People feel more comfortable with familiar characters and plots, as they don’t need to spend time getting to know the new settings. For example, the third season of “Everyone Has Been Reborn; Who’s Still Pretending to Be a Rich Second Generation?” had nearly 4 million pre-orders, which is a strong motivation for viewers to continue watching.
- AI technology has played a significant role: Compared to live-action short dramas, AI short dramas avoid issues such as rising actor salaries and scheduling conflicts. They can easily create various scenes (like fairy cities, cloud seas, and mythical creatures) at low cost, and the production speed is fast (some teams can release a new season in just one week), allowing them to keep up with the viewers’ desire for new content.
What Types of Themes Are Series-Based AI Short Dramas Focusing On?
Currently, there are four main categories, each with its own hit dramas:
- Fantasy and cultivation dramas are the most popular: For example, “The Treasure Basin: The Miscellaneous Spirit Roots Are the Real Boss” has reached the ninth season, with 18.91 million favorites. AI technology makes it easy to create high-cost scenes like “battles during the divine transformation phase” and “flying boats with mythical creatures.”
- Sweet romance dramas are the most widely loved: The fifth season of “Giving You Deep Affection for the Rest of My Life” introduced the “AI’s First Boyfriend,” Duan Yan, who has 557,000 followers on Douyin and even collaborated with Tmall for product promotions (selling a bracelet for one million yuan).
- Farmer, cute child, and urban-themed dramas are growing rapidly: “Su Yi’s Journey Through Time” (about becoming wealthy in ancient times) has 1,332 episodes in seven seasons; “The Handsome Family’s Lucky Baby” (a cute child story set in the Republic of China with local dialect) has 3.16 million favorites in the sixth season; “Everyone Has Been Reborn” (a story of overcoming adversity) has attracted over 80 million views in the tenth season.
- The range of themes is still expanding: As long as audiences enjoy them, any genre can be adapted into a series.
What Are the Key Steps to Creating a Successful Series-Based AI Short Drama?
A successful series is not just about increasing the number of seasons; the following three points are essential:
1. Choosing the right story is the foundation: Prioritize original works with a wide audience base and the potential for continuous growth. For example, “Everyone Has Been Reborn” started with a university dormitory setting, which coincided with the summer vacation season. The story also needs to have a compelling “driver” – something that makes the characters strive for something and face new challenges after becoming stronger (not just encountering stronger enemies).
2. The content must be heartfelt: Relying solely on AI to increase the number of episodes is not enough; the characters must remain consistent (for example, their personalities should not change suddenly), and there should be growth over the seasons. Additionally, avoid creating “beautiful but mediocre” content that drags down the overall quality.
3. Keep up the pace and avoid competition: Multiple teams may be working on the same IP, so you need to update quickly to prevent viewers from moving to other projects. Some teams even finish the original work before the author can update the next season.
What Does a Series-Based AI Short Drama Still Lack to Become a True IP?
Although current series are popular, they are still some way from becoming true IPs like Disney’s Mickey Mouse or Marvel’s superheroes:
- Severe homogenization: The story plots and character designs are similar, leading to viewers complaining about “watered-down” content.
- Many copyright issues: AI characters that resemble real-life celebrities can lead to complaints. Since the copyright of the original works is often with the platforms, producers lack the motivation to invest deeply in the series.
- Lack of “soul: AI characters struggle to interact with viewers in a way that makes them emotionally connected. For example, although Duan Yan is popular, he may lose followers if there are copyright disputes.
- Poor production quality: The low cost (around 100,000 yuan per episode) and fast update rate result in many dramas being of poor quality, lacking refinement in details.
To become a true IP, the characters and their world need to be more developed: the core plot should be progressed over multiple seasons, and additional stories from the characters’ perspectives should be created. Additionally, effective fan management and commercialization are necessary. Only by doing so can series-based AI short dramas evolve from mere “hit dramas” into IPs with long-term value.
Conclusion
The serialization of AI short dramas is a sign that the industry is moving from “wild growth” to more “meticulous development” – focusing on series to increase predictability rather than relying on the luck of individual hits. However, to achieve true success, issues such as homogenization, copyright infringement, and content quality must be addressed. Whether AI short dramas can become true IPs depends on whether the industry can find a balance between speed and quality.