The rapid pace of life drives the popularity of short dramas, emerging as a new emblem of Chinese entertainment.

      **Credit: Inside and Outside Home**

      In recent years, mini TV series, also known as short dramas, have surged in popularity in China, becoming a remarkable form of cultural consumption. These short dramas, typically lasting between one to five minutes, cater to a wide audience ranging from Gen Z to the elderly, providing the excitement of "completing a story in just a few minutes" during subway rides or lunch breaks.

      The appeal of short dramas in China can be attributed to their compatibility with contemporary lifestyles. They utilize fragmented time effectively, showcase fast-paced and engaging storylines, cover a variety of themes at relatively low costs, and benefit from strong promotional support from platforms. Given the generally long working hours in China, many individuals find it challenging to commit to traditional longer series, making short dramas an ideal source of immediate entertainment.

      **Delivering fast-paced thrills for immediate emotional satisfaction**

      Short dramas typically have a highly condensed narrative structure; they start with conflict or suspense and swiftly transition into high-energy moments like comebacks, face-slapping scenes, and plot twists. They forgo lengthy setups to focus on direct storytelling, delivering powerful emotional stimulation and psychological fulfillment.

      Consequently, short dramas tend to be very addictive, often creating a compelling urge to continue watching. However, this dependence on instant gratification can lead to issues like thematic uniformity and audience fatigue.

      **Lowered creative barriers and a surge of diverse themes**

      The internet has reduced the obstacles to content creation, encouraging more individuals to enter the space. Whether it’s urban romance, historical time travel, suspense, or science fiction, almost every popular genre is represented in short dramas.

      With their low production expenses and quick turnover times, short dramas can rapidly react to market feedback and constantly innovate, creating a significant platform for young creators to share their ideas.

      **Platform support and market expansion: the increasing diversity of audiences**

      Platforms such as Douyin (TikTok), Kuaishou, and Tencent Video provide short dramas with targeted recommendations and traffic support, while also experimenting with varied business models such as product placement, paid subscriptions, brand collaborations, and e-commerce integration.

      By 2025, China's short drama market is projected to exceed RMB 68 billion ($9.3 billion) and reach over 660 million users. The middle-aged and elderly demographic has become a significant growth factor, with viewers aged 50 and older now making up nearly 30% of the audience. This change indicates that short dramas are evolving from being a youth-centric trend to a form of entertainment embraced by all age groups.

      **An introduction to phenomenal short drama hits**

      “Inside and Outside Home,” set in 1980s Chengdu, reflects the everyday warmth and tensions of a blended family through local dialect, cuisine, and cultural elements. Within just three days of its launch, the series garnered millions of views on the Hongguo platform. It broke the notion that short dramas focus solely on intense conflict, rapid pacing, and melodrama, instead appealing to viewers with its subtle emotional depth and distinctive regional identity.

      “The Arrival of the Eighteen-Year-Old Great-Grandmother: Restoring Family Glory” intricately wove together multiple themes including time travel, aristocratic disputes, show business, academic success, and female empowerment. On its debut day, it topped the trending and hot search lists on Hongguo and Douyin’s short drama platform.

      **The sustainable development path of the short drama industry**

      The short drama industry still confronts several challenges, including copyright infringement, low-quality content, and algorithm-driven trends. Each short drama typically faces over a thousand pirated links. To foster a healthy ecosystem, the industry is seeking solutions such as stronger copyright enforcement, enhanced content review processes, and fairer compensation structures for screenwriters.

      The primary focus remains on sustaining audience engagement while steering clear of the risks of becoming disposable content—a crucial move for the industry’s progression toward maturity.

      **Jessie Wu** is a tech reporter in Shanghai, covering consumer electronics, semiconductors, and the gaming industry for TechNode. You can reach her via email at [email protected].