Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and TikTok Singapore have launched a programme to help local media professionals develop and commercialise microdramas across live-action and AI-enabled animation.
The IMDA-TikTok Microdrama Programme will initially support professionals from 20 accredited companies, with scope to expand in future editions. It forms part of IMDA’s Digital Content and Capability Development programme, launched earlier this year.
Running over six to nine months, the initiative will provide mentorships, workshops and masterclasses to help participants develop and produce 50 to 100 episodes, each lasting one to three minutes. Training will cover vertical production, shot design and composition, cliffhanger storytelling and responsible use of technology, including AI.
Participants will choose between two tracks. The live-action option focuses on productions using actors, locations and sets, with the option to incorporate AI-generated content or AI assistance. The AI-enabled animation track covers formats such as anime and comic-style animation, with training in prompt engineering, character consistency, visual effects quality review and ByteDance’s Seedance 2.5 video-generation platform.
Alongside production skills, the programme will cover commercial areas including paywall strategies and audience monetisation. Participants will also be onboarded onto TikTok’s wider content ecosystem and receive consultancy on distribution, audience engagement and reaching international markets with Singapore-made stories.
Yvonne Tang, assistant chief executive at IMDA’s Media Industry Group (pictured), said: “IMDA is excited to partner with TikTok to equip our media professionals with the skills to create compelling Singapore-made microdrama for global audiences. With TikTok’s reach and insights, our talent and companies are well-placed to seize new opportunities on a global platform, harnessing new tech tools with the same care and craft they bring to any creative work. This partnership is an important step towards building a vibrant, globally competitive media sector.”
Candera Chan, public policy lead for Singapore and ASEAN, said: “TikTok is proud to partner with IMDA to grow Singapore’s microdrama ecosystem and equip our local media industry with the capabilities to capture new opportunities in this fast-growing format. By combining Singapore’s creative talent with TikTok’s global reach and expertise in short-form storytelling, we can help made-in-Singapore content reach audiences around the world. We look forward to deepening our partnership with IMDA and the industry to build a vibrant and globally connected creative ecosystem.”
