Singapore’s media professionals will receive new support to develop microdrama production skills and create original intellectual property under a new programme jointly launched by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and TikTok Singapore.
The IMDA TikTok Microdrama Programme is part of IMDA’s Digital Content and Capability Development programme and aims to equip local media professionals with the skills and tools to develop microdramas in both live action and AI enabled animation formats. The programme will support participants through the full creative journey, from developing an initial concept and producing episodes to distribution and commercialisation.
The first run will involve media professionals from 20 accredited companies, with the potential for the programme to expand to a wider pool in future editions. Participants will develop microdrama series comprising between 50 and 100 episodes, with each episode running for one to three minutes.
The programme will run over six to nine months and include mentorships, workshops and masterclasses led by TikTok and its partners. Training will cover areas such as vertical video production, shot design and composition, storytelling techniques and cliffhanger design, as well as the responsible use of technology including artificial intelligence.
Participants can choose between two training tracks. The live action track focuses on productions featuring actors, locations and sets designed for mobile viewing, with the option to incorporate AI generated content or AI assisted production. The AI enabled animation track focuses on animated formats such as anime and comic style content, with training covering prompt engineering, character consistency planning, visual effects quality review and the use of Seedance 2.5, an AI video generation platform developed by TikTok parent company ByteDance.
Beyond production techniques, the programme will also cover commercial and platform specific capabilities. Participants will learn about areas including prompt engineering, paywall strategies and audience monetisation, while gaining access to TikTok’s market insights and expertise.
The focus on short form episodic storytelling comes as TikTok and the wider digital entertainment industry continue to expand their use of microdrama formats. TikTok has introduced Mini Dramas and Drama Center tools that allow episodic content to be distributed and monetised within its ecosystem, with Drama Center supporting series management, multilingual translation and revenue sharing.
TikTok also reported in June 2026 that short dramas recorded 2.26 billion global downloads in 2025, with downloads increasing by 140% year on year in the first quarter of 2026. Southeast Asia accounted for 32% of global short drama downloads during that quarter, according to data cited by TikTok from Sensor Tower.
The programme will also focus on developing stories rooted in Singaporean culture and perspectives. Participants will be brought into TikTok’s wider content ecosystem, gaining experience across delivery, distribution and audience engagement, alongside consultancy intended to support the international reach of their productions.
The initiative builds on broader efforts to develop short form storytelling in Singapore. IMDA previously supported local microdrama development through initiatives such as Mediacorp’s First Frames: SG60, which received more than 130 producer submissions for short form stories centred on Singapore’s journey and aspirations.
