China’s New Big Industry Is Slop Micro-Dramas That Kids Can’t Stop Watching

Have you been getting weird YouTube ads recently? This might be why.

China’s entertainment industry is still building on the international stage. While the country’s films boast impressive viewership numbers within the country, outside, there aren’t a lot of international eyes on the nation’s film output.

Until now, that is. One of the biggest markets emerging in China is “micro-dramas” — short, overly-dramatic performances to be consumed through apps like TikTok. They’ve been promoted heavily in the West as of late (which may be why these videos could feel somewhat familiar to you), but in case you haven’t seen them before, here’s a taste of what you’re in for.