Photo:Sina Weibo

A department affiliated with China's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) published a guideline on Monday for micro dramas with themes related to the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). The guideline called for stricter content reviews and avoidance of unrealistic settings and childish plots in these micro dramas.

Micro dramas are known for their fast-paced storytelling, diverse themes and cost-effective production. They have emerged as a popular new art form in the cultural landscape.

An article published on the WeChat public account of NRTA Research Center said the NRTA's network audio-visual department released the guideline on Monday, which noted that 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The article highlighted that various entities, including video platforms, production companies, social organizations and the public, have actively engaged in creating micro dramas to express patriotism, enriching the expression of mainstream themes.

However, the guideline pointed out that there have appeared some issues, such as overly exaggerated character development and excessive pursuit of so-called dramatic tension, making some viewers feel "unrealistic". These issues, it said, have to some extent trivialized the true history of the war, and are not conducive to shaping the values of young people.

The guideline reiterated that authorities at all levels under the NRTA should fulfill their supervision responsibilities, while market entities in the micro drama industry should take primary responsibility to avoid the arbitrary application of modern technologies and ideas to the war scenarios, refrain from unrealistic settings or making protagonists with "superhuman" abilities, and reject childish plots that "over-glorify one's own side and trivialize the enemy."

Additionally, the micro drama creators must abandon the plots that reduce national narratives in the war to personal revenge, and curb creation models that lack historical logic, the guideline stated.

Global Times