Core Insights - The domestic short drama industry has transitioned from a scale explosion phase to a period of stock competition and refinement by the end of 2025, with a cumulative heat value of 22.877 billion as of November 2025, but the paid segment has seen a decline for two consecutive months, with a year-on-year drop of 7% in November, marking a fundamental shift in industry competition logic [1][2] Market Trends: Genre Stratification, Head Aggregation, and Rise of Manhua - The short drama market has reached a cumulative heat value of 22.877 billion, with an average monthly heat value of 2.08 billion, but the paid segment has declined due to the increasing share of free content, indicating a shift to a stock competition phase [2] - Mainstream genres include revenge and urban themes, while female growth and family-oriented themes are emerging as new focal points for producers [2] - Three major production clusters have formed in Xi'an, Zhengzhou, and Hengdian, with Zhengzhou having 12 companies in the national top 50, highlighting the industry aggregation effect [2] - The manhua genre is expected to become a new market opportunity in 2025, with an estimated market size exceeding 15 billion, primarily led by male-oriented and historical themes [2] Short Drama's Second Half: Content as King - The industry has shifted from a focus on traffic to a "content is king" approach, emphasizing the importance of content refinement and respecting the value of all creators in the production chain [5][6] - The transition from "revenge" themes to value-oriented content such as traditional culture and red themes is necessary to balance economic returns with social responsibility [5] - The future of the industry will focus on high-quality production, with a shift from "mass production" to "fine production," where individual projects may require investments of 1.5 to 2 million [6] Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement in Production - The industry is exploring various methods for cost reduction and efficiency improvement, including optimizing operational processes and enhancing the quality of production elements [9][10] - Different companies are adopting tailored cost reduction strategies based on their scale, with larger firms focusing on industrialized production and smaller firms concentrating on reducing non-essential expenditures [12][13] - The core expenditure in short drama production includes actor costs (approximately 30%), staff costs (around 30%), and scene-related expenses, with significant potential for cost reduction in actor and scene costs [13] 2026 Outlook - The industry is expected to focus on three core keywords: short drama refinement, AI integration, and a move away from industrialization, with an emphasis on collaboration and resource sharing among companies [16][17] - The rise of free short dramas is leading to a concentration of power among major platforms, suggesting that smaller production companies should align closely with dominant players in the market [17] - The manhua genre, particularly AI-driven manhua, is anticipated to be a significant trend, with many production companies already pivoting towards this area [17]