Sep 21, 2026
Bytedance launched Dramagic, an AI platform for producing short dramas and videos. It covers the full pipeline, from script analysis and character creation to storyboarding and video previews. Multiple users can collaborate simultaneously, with built-in consistency checks to maintain quality. Dramagic is sold through BytePlus, Bytedance’s enterprise platform. Access can be requested here.
The launch fits a bigger trend. According to the China Netcasting Services Association, about 128,000 short dramas were published in China in Q1 2026, three times the total for all of the previous year. 95 percent were AI-generated. Tsinghua University professor Shen Yang puts the cost of one minute of AI video at $90 to $120, about a tenth of traditional production costs. The industry employs 690,000 people directly, but some performers are reportedly being forced to hand over their voice and likeness to AI tools before getting laid off.
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