Singapore is stepping up efforts to develop its microdrama industry through a new programme that will train local media professionals to create short, mobile-first series for audiences in Singapore and overseas.
The Infocomm Media Development Authority and TikTok Singapore launched the IMDA-TikTok Microdrama Programme on Oct. 1, with the initiative designed to strengthen production capabilities, develop original intellectual property and help media companies bring their stories to market.
The first run will involve media professionals from 20 accredited companies and will last between six and nine months. Participants will learn how to develop and produce microdrama series consisting of 50 to 100 episodes, with each episode running about one to three minutes.
Microdramas are short, fast-paced stories designed primarily for vertical viewing on smartphones. Their format typically relies on strong characters, emotional hooks and cliffhangers to encourage viewers to return for the next episode.
Participants will be able to choose between two production tracks. The live-action track will focus on actors, locations and sets designed for mobile viewing, while allowing creators to incorporate AI-generated or AI-assisted elements.
The second track will focus on AI-enabled animation, including anime- and comic-style content. Training will cover prompt engineering, maintaining consistent characters, visual-effects quality review and the use of Seedance 2.5, an AI video-generation model developed by TikTok’s parent company ByteDance.
The programme will also go beyond production techniques. Participants will learn about vertical storytelling, shot design, composition, cliffhanger development, paywall strategies, audience monetisation and other platform-specific skills.
The initiative is part of Singapore’s broader Digital Content and Capability Development programme, which supports media companies in developing local content and experimenting with emerging technologies. The programme builds on earlier government efforts to help media professionals incorporate AI into writing, production and editing while keeping creators responsible for the quality and creative decisions behind their work.
The global market for microdramas and other short-form vertical video content is projected to generate about US$150 billion in revenue in 2026. In Singapore, data cited by the authorities showed that 87 per cent of people aged 15 and above accessed major social media video platforms weekly between April 2025 and March 2026.
The programme also aims to help Singapore-made stories reach international audiences. Participants will receive guidance on distribution, audience engagement and monetisation, as well as consultancy intended to help their productions enter global markets.
The push comes as Singapore’s media industry explores new ways to produce and distribute entertainment for audiences increasingly accustomed to short-form, mobile-first viewing. It also follows recent regional collaborations involving Singapore and Korean companies to develop microdrama productions for Asian audiences.
For Singapore’s media professionals, the new programme provides a structured pathway from developing short-form stories to producing, distributing and commercialising them, while giving local creators an opportunity to experiment with both traditional production and emerging AI technologies.
