China Arts & Entertainment
Overview of China’s 2015 Top TV Dramas
China is the largest consumer of television drama in the world. What’s on Weibo discusses China’s most popular TV series of the summer of 2015.
Published
9 years agoon
1.“The Journey of Flower” 花千骨 (Hua Qian Gu)
Costume Drama, 2015, Hunan TV.
The Journey of Flower is the number one TV hit of this moment, a love story evolving around Bai Zi Hua (played by Huo Jianhua) and Hua Qian Gu (actress Zhao Liying). The drama is based on the popular fantasy wuxia novel (仙侠奇缘之花千骨) by Fresh Guo Guo. When the three-minute short trailer was released online, it received more than 280 million views on Sina Weibo and became one of the hottest topics on China’s social media. The show is broadcasted from June 9, 2015 until August 31, 2015.
The Journey of Flower tells the story of the heroine Hu Qian Gu, a girl born under exceptional circumstances with a special scent and magical powers. Hu Qian Gu grows up in the outskirts of a village with just her sick father. At only 16, she becomes an orphan and is taken on by Bai Zihua, an immortal in charge of a magical realm, as his only disciple. Hu Qian Qu falls in love with her master, but doesn’t reveal her true feelings. The story revolves around their evolving love and the challenges Hu Qian Gu faces in fighting off her demons. To read recaps of every episode, you can follow this blog.
2. “Diamond Lover” 克拉恋人 (Kela Lianren)
Urban Romance, 2015, Zhejiang TV.
Diamond Lover tells the story of Mi Duo, an ambitious young woman who falls in love with diamond factory director Xiao Liang. Because Mi Duo and Xiao Liang are worlds apart, she does not want to confess her love to him. But her life changes drastically after a car accident. Mi Duo loses weight and has to go through surgery, making her more beautiful than before. She is recruited to work for the diamond factory as a designer, and as she finds her place in the workplace, she also finds love and has to make important decisions between inner and outer beauty, love and career, friends and lovers.
3. “The Lost Tomb” 盗墓笔记(Dao Mu Bi Ji)
Action Drama, 2015, iQIYI.
The Lost Tomb is an action and adventure drama, revolving around Wu Xie (played by Li Yifeng), who comes from a family of archeologists. When his parents are killed by tomb robbers while protecting national heritage, the young Wu Xie is send abroad for his own safety. But unavoidably, the young Wu gets interested in historical relics. By chance, he obtains records that contain the secrets of an old tomb, also revealing information relating to his family. With the help of his family’s notes and a team of helpers, Wu Xie sets out on a journey to find lost treasures and the people who killed his family.
4. “Best Get Going” 加油吧实习生 (Jiayou Ba Shixisheng)
Urban Drama, 2015, Jiangsu TV.
Best Get Going contains all elements of a contemporary urban drama: a group of post-90s generation friends is about to graduate from college, and they are all entering the job market by getting an internship. They suffer from their parent’s pressure, and struggle to make their own choices for their life, career and happiness.
5. “Tornado Girl” 旋风少女 (Xuan Feng Shao Nv)
Youth Inspirational Drama, 2015, Hunan TV.
6. “Hua Xu Yin ” 华胥引(Hua Xu Yin)
Fantasy Drama, 2015, Jiangxi TV
The Hua Yu Xin drama is a popular fantasy drama that revolves around various Chinese myths. Ye Zhen (actress Lin Yuan) is the princess of the State of Wei (1040-209 BC), who unknowingly falls in love with Mo Yan, who turns out to be a price of the enemy kingdom. But she remains true to her love, and even dies for him. Afterwards, she is resurrected through the magic power of the pearl and then becomes a dreamweaver, creating dreams for people with her Hua Xu tune.
7. “My Baby” 我的宝贝(Wo De Bao Bei)
Urban Love Drama, 2015, Jiangsu TV.
This drama has become especially popular because it is about a couple where the wife is very strong, whereas the husband is somewhat weak. The wife Liu Ruonan gets pregnant by accident, and when she gives birth to a baby girl, husband Yuan Xiaofan becomes a full-time stay-at-home dad. Ultimately, My Baby is a story about love, conveying that marriage needs commitment, and that it takes two people to make a relationship work.
8. “The Monster Killer” 无心法师(Wu Xin Fa Shi)
Fantasy Drama, 2015, SOHU.
This drama is set during the Qing dynasty (around 1862-1874), and revolves around the immortal man Wu Xin, who is doomed to eternal poverty. He does not know where he comes from or where he will go, or whether he is human or a demon. He retires to the mountains with his lover, but by the Republican era, his beloved has died, and Wu Xin is so poor that he leaves his mountain and pretends to be a monster-hunting monk in order to survive (source). This show especially popular because it is full of fantasy and mystery.
9. “The Icy And Fiery Youth” 冰与火的青春(Bin Yu Huo De Qing Chun)
Youth Inspirational Drama, 2015, Hunan TV.
Similar to Best Get Going, this drama tells the story of a group of post 1980s generation friends, following them from campus to society. By overcoming many difficulties and frustrations, they become stronger and more mature. Finally they learn how to cherish what they have, and appreciate the happiness in their lives.
10. “Destined to love you” 偏偏喜欢你(Pian Pian Xi Huan Ni)
Inspirational Drama, 2015, Hunan TV.
This show is especially popular because it embody chinese national spirit.
This somewhat nationalistic drama tells the story of a girl called Qian Baobao, who becomes the teacher at a military academy by mistake. She gets involved in confusing situations in terms of love and her own identity. Eventually, she learns to conquer these difficulties and defeat her enemies.
By Manya Koetse
Follow @WhatsOnWeibo
References
– Koetse, Manya [forthcoming]. “From Woman Warrior to Good Wife – Confucian Influences on the Portrayal of Women in China’s Television Drama.” In Stefania Travagnin (ed), Religion and Media in China. New York: Routledge.
– Schneider, Florian. 2012. Visual Political Communication in Popular Chinese Television Series. Leiden and Boston: Koninklijke Brill NV.
©2015 Whatsonweibo. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce our content without permission – you can contact us at info@whatsonweibo.com.
Manya Koetse is the founder and editor-in-chief of whatsonweibo.com. She is a writer, public speaker, and researcher (Sinologist, MPhil) on social trends, digital developments, and new media in an ever-changing China, with a focus on Chinese society, pop culture, and gender issues. She shares her love for hotpot on hotpotambassador.com. Contact at manya@whatsonweibo.com, or follow on Twitter.
China Arts & Entertainment
Going All In on Short Streaming: About China’s Online ‘Micro Drama’ Craze
For viewers, they’re the ultimate guilty pleasure. For producers, micro dramas mean big profit.
Published
2 days agoon
March 26, 2024By
Ruixin ZhangPREMIUM CONTENT
Closely intertwined with the Chinese social media landscape and the fast-paced online entertainment scene, micro dramas have emerged as an immensely popular way to enjoy dramas in bite-sized portions. With their short-format style, these dramas have become big business, leading Chinese production studios to compete and rush to create the next ‘mini’ hit.
In February of this year, Chinese social media started flooding with various hashtags highlighting the huge commercial success of ‘online micro-short dramas’ (wǎngluò wēiduǎnjù 网络微短剧), also referred to as ‘micro drama’ or ‘short dramas’ (微短剧).
Stories ranged from “Micro drama screenwriters making over 100k yuan [$13.8k] monthly” to “Hengdian building earning 2.8 million yuan [$387.8k] rent from micro dramas within six months” and “Couple earns over 400 million [$55 million] in a month by making short dramas,” all reinforcing the same message: micro dramas mean big profits. (Respectively #短剧爆款编剧月入可超10万元#, #横店一栋楼半年靠短剧租金收入280万元#, #一对夫妇做短剧每月进账4亿多#.)
Micro dramas, taking China by storm and also gaining traction overseas, are basically super short streaming series, with each episode usually lasting no more than two minutes.
From Horizontal to Vertical
Online short dramas are closely tied to Chinese social media and have been around for about a decade, initially appearing on platforms like Youku and Tudou. However, the genre didn’t explode in popularity until 2020.
That year, China’s State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television (SARFT) introduced a “fast registration and filing module for online micro dramas” to their “Key Online Film and Television Drama Information Filing System.” Online dramas or films can only be broadcast after obtaining an “online filing number.”
Chinese streaming giants such as iQiyi, Tencent, and Youku then began releasing 10-15 minute horizontal short dramas in late 2020. Despite their shorter length and faster pace, they actually weren’t much different from regular TV dramas.
Soon after, short video social platforms like Douyin (TikTok) and Kuaishou joined the trend, launching their own short dramas with episodes only lasting around 3 minutes each.
Of course, Douyin wouldn’t miss out on this trend and actively contributed to boosting the genre. To better suit its interface, Douyin converted horizontal-screen dramas into vertical ones (竖屏短剧).
Then, in 2021, the so-called mini-program (小程序) short dramas emerged, condensing each episode to 1-2 minutes, often spanning over 100 episodes.
These short dramas are advertised on platforms like Douyin, and when users click, they are directed to mini-programs where they need to pay for further viewing. Besides direct payment revenue, micro dramas may also bring in revenue from advertising.
‘Losers’ Striking Back
You might wonder what could possibly unfold in a TV drama lasting just two minutes per episode.
The Chinese cultural media outlet ‘Hedgehog Society’ (刺猬公社) collected data from nearly 6,000 short dramas and generated a word cloud based on their content keywords.
In works targeted at female audiences, the most common words revolve around (romantic) relationships, such as “madam” (夫人) and “CEO” (总裁). Unlike Chinese internet novels from over a decade ago, which often depicted perfect love and luxurious lifestyles, these short dramas offer a different perspective on married life and self-discovery.
According to Hedgehog Society’s data, the frequency of the term “divorce” (离婚) in short dramas is ten times higher than “married” (结婚) or “newlyweds” (新婚). Many of these dramas focus on how the female protagonist builds a better life after divorce and successfully stands up to her ex-husband or to those who once underestimated her — both physically and emotionally.
In male-oriented short dramas, the pursuit of power is a common theme, with phrases like “the strongest in history” (史上最强) and “war god” (战神) frequently mentioned. Another surprising theme is “matrilocal son” (赘婿), the son-in-law who lives with his wife’s family. In China, this term is derogatory, particularly referring to husbands with lower economic income and social status than their wives, which is considered embarrassing in traditional Chinese views. However, in these short dramas, the matrilocal son will employ various methods to earn the respect of his wife’s family and achieve significant success.
Although storylines differ, a recurring theme in these short dramas is protagonists wanting to turn their lives around. This desire for transformation is portrayed from various perspectives, whether it’s from the viewpoint of a wealthy, elite individual or from those with lower social status, such as divorced single women or matrilocal son-in-laws. This “feel-good” sentiment appears to resonate with many Chinese viewers.
Cultural influencer Lu Xuyu (@卢旭宁) quoted from a forum on short dramas, explaining the types of short dramas that are popular: Men seek success and admiration, and want to be pursued by beautiful women. Women seek romantic love or are still hoping the men around them finally wake up. One netizen commented more bluntly: “They are all about the counterattack of the losers (屌丝逆袭).”
The word used here is “diaosi,” a term used by Chinese netizens for many years to describe themselves as losers in a self-deprecating way to cope with the hardships of a competitive life, in which it has become increasingly difficult for Chinese youths to climb the social ladder.
Addicted to Micro Drama
By early 2024, the viewership of China’s micro dramas had soared to 120 million monthly active users, with the genre particularly resonating with lower-income individuals and the elderly in lower-tier markets.
However, short dramas also enjoy widespread popularity among many young people. According to data cited by Bilibili creator Caoxiaoling (@曹小灵比比叨), 64.9% of the audience falls within the 15-29 age group.
For these young viewers, short dramas offer rapid plot twists, meme-worthy dialogues, condensing the content of several episodes of a long drama into just one minute—stripping away everything except the pure “feel-good” sentiment, which seems rare in the contemporary online media environment. Micro dramas have become the ultimate ‘guilty pleasure.’
Even the renowned Chinese actress Ning Jing (@宁静) admitted to being hooked on short dramas. She confessed that while initially feeling “scammed” by the poor production and acting, she became increasingly addicted as she continued watching.
It’s easy to get hooked. Despite criticisms of low quality or shallowness, micro dramas are easy to digest, featuring clear storylines and characters. They don’t demand night-long binge sessions or investment in complex storylines. Instead, people can quickly watch multiple episodes while waiting for their bus or during a short break, satisfying their daily drama fix without investing too much time.
Chasing the gold rush
During the recent Spring Festival holiday, the Chinese box office didn’t witness significant growth compared to previous years. In the meantime, the micro drama “I Went Back to the 80s and Became a Stepmother” (我在八零年代当后妈), shot in just 10 days with a post-production cost of 80,000 yuan ($11,000), achieved a single-day revenue exceeding 2 million yuan ($277k). It’s about a college girl who time-travels back to the 1980s, reluctantly getting married to a divorced pig farm owner with kids, but unexpectedly falling in love.
Despite its simple production and clichéd plot, micro dramas like this are drawing in millions of viewers. The producer earned over 100 million yuan ($13 million) from this drama and another short one.
The popularity of short dramas, along with these significant profits, has attracted many people to join the short drama industry. According to some industry insiders, a short drama production team often involves hundreds or even thousands of contributors who help in writing scripts. These contributors include college students, unemployed individuals, and online writers — seemingly anyone can participate.
By now, Hengdian World Studios, the largest film and television shooting base in China, is already packed with crews filming short dramas. With many production teams facing a shortage of extras, reports have surfaced indicating significant increases in salaries, with retired civil workers even being enlisted as actors.
Despite the overwhelming success of some short dramas like “I Went Back to the 80s and Became a Stepmother,” it is not easy to replicate their formula. The screenwriter of the time-travel drama, Mi Meng (@咪蒙的微故事), is a renowned online writer who is very familiar with how to use online strategies to draw in more viewers. For many average creators, their short drama production journey is much more difficult and less fruitful.
But with low costs and potentially high returns, even if only one out of a hundred productions succeeds, it could be sufficient to recover the expenses of the others. This high-stakes, cutthroat competition poses a significant challenge for smaller players in the micro drama industry – although they actually fueled the genre’s growth.
As more scriptwriters and short dramas flood the market, leading to content becoming increasingly similar, the chances of making profits are likely to decrease. Many short drama platforms have yet to start generating net profits.
This situation has sparked concerns among netizens and critics regarding the future of short dramas. Given the genre’s success and intense competition, a transformation seems inevitable: only the shortest dramas that cater to the largest audiences will survive.
In the meantime, however, netizens are enjoying the hugely wide selection of micro dramas still available to them. One Weibo blogger, Renmin University Professor Ma Liang (@学者马亮), writes: “I spent some time researching short videos and watched quite a few. I must admit, once you start, you just can’t stop. ”
By Ruixin Zhang, edited with further input by Manya Koetse
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China Arts & Entertainment
“The End of the Golden Age of Japanese Manga”: Chinese Netizens Mourn Death of Akira Toriyama
Published
3 weeks agoon
March 8, 2024Chinese fans are mourning the death of Japanese manga artist and character creator Akira Toriyama. On Friday, his production company confirmed that the 68-year-old artist passed away due to acute subdural hematoma.
On Weibo, a hashtag related to his passing became trending as netizens shared their memories and appreciation for Toriyama’s work, as well as creating fan art in his honor.
The tribute to Toriyama reached beyond online fans – even spokesperson Mao Ning (毛宁) for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China expressed condolences during a regular press conference held on Friday (#外交部对漫画家鸟山明去世表示哀悼#).
Throughout his career, Toriyama created various works, but he is best known for his manga “Dragon Ball,” which was published between 1984-1995 in the magazine Shonen Jump and spawned TV series, films, and video games.
Chinese Love for “Dragon Ball”
Japanese comics and anime have had a significant impact on Chinese popular culture. In China, one of the largest comics markets globally, Japanese manga has been a major import since the 1980s.
Chinese readers form the largest fan community for Japanese comics and anime, and for many Chinese, the influential creations of Akira Toriyama, like “Dr. Slump” and particularly “Dragon Ball,” are cherished as part of their childhood or teenage memories (Fung et al 2019, 125-126).
The cultural link between Toriyama’s “Dragon Ball” and Chinese readers goes further than their mere appreciation for Japanese manga/anime. Toriyama drew inspiration from the Chinese book Journey to the West when he initially created the “Dragon Ball” story. That epic tale, filled with heroes and demons, revolves around supernatural monkey Sun Wukong who accompanies the Tang dynasty monk Xuanzang on a pilgrimage to India to obtain Buddhist sūtras (holy scriptures).
“Dragon Ball” chronicles the adventures of Son Goku, a superhuman boy with a monkey tail, who who is swept into a series of adventures connected to the wish-granting, magical dragon balls, sought after by his evil enemies.
Besides Journey to the West, “Dragon Ball” is filled with many other China-related references and word games, from Chinese mythology to martial arts (Mínguez-López 2014, 35).
In one online poll conducted by Sina News asking Weibo users if “Dragon Ball” is part of their childhood memories, a majority of people responded that the manga series was part of their post-1980s and post-1990s childhood, although younger people also indicated that they loved “Dragon Ball.”
Online Tributes to Toriyama
On Friday, many bloggers and online creators posted images and art to honor Akira Toriyama. Several images went viral and were reposted thousands of times.
Chinese graphic design artist Wuheqilin (@乌合麒麟) dedicated a particularly popular post and image to Toriyama, suggesting that his death symbolized “the end of the golden age of Japanese manga.”
Shituzi (@使徒子), a Chinese comic artist, posted an image for Toriyama with the words “goodbye.”
Chinese comedian Yan Hexiang (阎鹤祥) wrote: “I just bought the Dr. Slump series online. I thank you for bringing me the memories of my childhood, I salute you.”
Weibo is flooded with tribute art honoring Japanese manga artist & Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama today. The famous artist, who passed away at the age of 68, holds a special place in the hearts of Chinese fans. This image was shared by Chinese comic artist Shituzi (使徒子) 👇 pic.twitter.com/wsUukRa2dp
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) March 8, 2024
Automotive blogger Chen Zhen (陈震) posted an image of Dragon Ball protagonist Son Goku with wings on his back, waving goodbye, writing: “Rest in peace.”
One Dragon Ball fan (@小佛手绘) posted another AI-generated image of Son Goku standing by Toriyama’s grave which was shared all over Weibo.
By Friday night, the hashtag “Akira Toriyama Passed Away” (#鸟山明去世#) had generated over one billion views on Weibo, showing just how impactful Toriyama’s work has been in China – a legacy that will last long after his passing.
By Manya Koetse
References
Fung, Anthony, Boris Pun, and Yoshitaka Mori. 2019. “Reading Border-Crossing Japanese Comics/Anime in China: Cultural Consumption, Fandom, and Imagination.” Global Media and China 4, no. 1: 125–137.
Xavier Mínguez-López. 2014. “Folktales and Other References in Toriyama’s Dragon Ball.” Animation: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Vol. 9 (1): 27–46.
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Busy Bee
October 22, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Thanks. I find it so useful as I can’t read Chinese. There are so many dramas that I want to watch but limited as I can’t read or write Chinese.
Where can I watch them besides you tube?
Yunita
December 20, 2015 at 9:34 pm
Thanks! Best get going has a unique story. I have been watching it for the past two days and still watching. Kind of addictive.
Yunita
December 20, 2015 at 9:35 pm
I watched it through an application named DRAMOT+