AI in Micro-Short Drama Production: A Comprehensive Review of Applications and Challenges

The rapid growth of micro-short dramas as a dominant form of digital entertainment has been significantly influenced by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This paper presents a systematic review of AI technology applications across the full production chain of microshort dramas, encompassing content creation, production, and distribution. Through a comprehensive analysis of 15 seminal works and industrial case studies, we identify and elaborate on AI’s role in three critical phases: preproduction (e.g., data-driven ideation and scriptwriting assistance), mid-production (e.g., automated dialogue synchronization and editing), and post-production (e.g., recommendation algorithms and personalized content delivery). The findings indicate that while AI significantly enhances production efficiency and the precision of audience targeting but introduces new challenges such as creative homogenization, intellectual property ambiguity, and ethical concerns regarding algorithmic governance. The study concludes that sustainable integration requires human–AI collaboration, more robust regulatory frameworks, and standardized ethical audit protocols. This review contributes a structured framework to understanding the current landscape and future trajectory of AI’s role in micro-short drama production.