Behind 70 Billion Views: How AI-Powered “Manju” Is Rewriting the Rules of the Film Industry

In 2025, a new format called “Manju” (AI-powered comic-style short drama) exploded onto short-video platforms, amassing over 70 billion views for the year. On Douyin alone, more than 60,000 original Manju series were launched. This new hybrid—somewhere between comics and animation—is rapidly rewriting the production logic of video content.

Simply put, Manju combines comic-style storyboarding with dynamic audiovisual language. Using static comics or online novels as source material, it brings static panels to life through technology, adding voiceovers, sound effects, and background music to deliver a video-like viewing experience. Its core advantage lies in cost efficiency: per-episode production costs have plummeted from millions for traditional animation to just 5,000 yuan, with high-quality action scenes costing under 10,000 yuan per minute—a 90% reduction compared to conventional animation.

Li Wei, a professor at Nanjing Normal University and deputy executive director of the Yangtze River Online Literature Criticism Center, describes the current industry frenzy: “The past few months of AI development have surpassed years of progress. Every micro-drama company I know is diving headfirst into AI-powered Manju, and competition is fierce from the start. Their motto is: ‘Make up in Manju for the opportunities missed in live-action dramas.'”

Cost Reduction and Efficiency Gains: AI Democratizes Creation

The explosion of Manju is underpinned by leaps in AI technology. In just one year, production quality has advanced dramatically—from the early word-of-mouth hit Strange Tales of Xing’anling to the Spring Festival sensation Journey to the West: Mistaking the Jade Emperor as Father, which was hailed by viewers as the “Manju Spring Festival Gala” for its clever reimagining of the classic tale and sharp workplace satire.

The video generation model Seedance 2.0, which drew widespread attention during this year’s Spring Festival, has been a game-changer. According to Qin Lin, CEO of Nanjing Xuanjia Network Technology, Seedance 2.0 achieves parallel modeling of visuals and audio with millisecond-level precision, fundamentally solving issues like lip-sync mismatches and motion distortions. Combined with high-quality vertical data training, professional cinematography syntax, and improved temporal and physical accuracy, the model has evolved from “usable” to “truly effective”—from random generation to controlled creation.

“Before, when a character picked up a cup to drink, the motion would stutter and the water wouldn’t slosh. Now AI Manju is virtually indistinguishable from live-action footage—even subtle facial expressions come through,” said Wei Chengchao, chairman of Eight-Ray Light (Jiangsu) Film and Television Group. He noted that the AI revolution has triggered an efficiency surge in the industry. The tedious process of sifting through AI-generated outputs, which once took experienced staff a full day to produce just 5–8 minutes of video, now sees productivity increase three- to fivefold.

Content Remains King: Great Stories Still Matter

While AI has dramatically lowered the production bar, a consensus is emerging across the industry: technology is just a tool—great stories are what truly matter.

Wang Dongmei, vice president of Hefei Dixun Information Technology and a representative of the production team behind Zhan Xian Tai (The Executioner’s Stand), which has surpassed one billion views, emphasized: “If a project is fully generated by AI—from script and storyboard to post-production—without human intervention, the result won’t meet market demands.” Her team stayed true to the original material, avoiding gratuitous reinterpretations while ensuring compliance.

Zhang Shoucai, CEO of Nanjing Luochen Culture Media, has spent 23 years in online literature. He noted that genres are becoming increasingly niche. “For example, ‘CEO romance’ subdivides into categories like ‘regretful pursuit,’ ‘anguished love,’ and ‘sweet romance.’ Fantasy splits into ‘underdog triumph,’ ‘immortal conflict,’ and ‘cultivation.’ Cross-genre combinations constantly generate new formulas.” Who can tell fresher, more compelling stories determines whether micro-dramas can expand their audience and achieve sustainable growth.

Data from Kuaishou shows only 38% overlap between Manju and live-action short-drama paying users—meaning Manju brings 62% incremental users for advertisers. This underscores the unique value of this emerging format.

Quality Over Quantity: The Shift to Premium Content

As the market expands rapidly, the industry is undergoing a transition from quantity-driven growth to quality-focused development.

At the end of 2025, the National Radio and Television Administration officially included AI-generated Manju under its regulatory framework. In early 2026, it launched a special campaign to regulate “AI-altered” content. In early February, the Hongguo platform capped daily uploads for individual accounts at 30 live-action or Manju episodes, aiming to foster a healthier, more orderly creative ecosystem.

Platforms are also ramping up support for premium content. Douyin’s Short Drama Copyright Center recently unveiled its second round of incentives for high-quality Manju: productions rated highly—whether AI-simulated live-action or 2D/3D animation—receive guaranteed minimum payouts. For top-tier original IP from Fanqie Novel, the center subsidizes 100% of adaptation rights fees.

Yuewen Group has deepened its investment in Jiangyou Animation, a leading AI Manju production house; their first collaboration has already surpassed 150 million views on Douyin. Yang Zhan, general manager of Yuewen’s Manju division, reported that in less than six months, Yuewen’s Manju revenue has exceeded 100 million yuan, with 12 titles surpassing 100 million views each.

The Future Is Here, but the Human Touch Remains Irreplaceable

Amid the Manju boom, a deeper question emerges: as technology advances, where does human value lie?

Wang Fang, a professor at Nanjing University of the Arts and a national first-tier director, summed up the current landscape with one word: “involution”—intense competition over costs, technology, and quality. But he also offered a caution: “Embracing AI is the trend, but people must also learn to ‘go back’—to the simplest origins. I’ve been creating AI short films, but I’ve also returned to documentary filmmaking. Miracles like the Tibetan girl’s story captured in Takeuchi Ryōtarō’s The Yangtze River—these are real human stories that AI cannot ‘generate.'”

Zhou Zheng, secretary general of the Nanjing Film Association, noted that current AI Manju still falls short of premium traditional films. “Micro-dramas primarily deliver a sense of ‘thrill,’ not the depth, humanity, and emotional resonance found in high-grossing films that reflect real life and celebrate ordinary struggles.”

Liu Shuliang, a professor at Communication University of China, pointed out a challenge: “Currently, Manju—especially AI Manju—suffers from some degree of thematic homogeneity and formulaic storytelling. We hope to see more quality works that combine technical sophistication, cultural depth, and artistic pursuit, driving healthy industry growth.”

Looking ahead, competition is shifting from “who can produce faster” to “who can tell better stories and consistently generate hits.” As Xia Lie, dean of the Cultural and Creative Industry Research Institute at Hangzhou Normal University, put it: “The script is key. Whether made by AI or live actors, a great story and IP remain the foundation of any hit.”

In 2025, Manju’s user payment rate was 15 percentage points higher than that of traditional short dramas, with average annual spending per user rising 80%. The numbers show Manju isn’t just about traffic—it’s a viable business. As technology matures and content quality improves, this emerging sector is poised for a true breakthrough—provided that, while embracing AI, creators never forget that what truly moves audiences are stories with heart.