Small teams summon big worlds

Keeping humans involved

While AI makes such production possible, the process is not as automatic as it may appear.

Industry insiders often describe the refinement stage as "gacha", borrowing a term from randomized game mechanics.

"AI generation has a lot of randomness," Tang said. "The results don't always match what you had in mind. It can't get every shot right on its own, so people have to step in."

According to him, the work still depends heavily on human taste: which expression feels right, which camera angle has impact, which frame should stay and which should be discarded. Creators have to repeatedly generate clips, compare the results and choose the best version.

Voice dubbing also remains largely human. Tang said AI-generated voices still struggle with intense emotion, especially grief, anger and deep sadness.

"AI is AI, after all. Its emotions aren't as rich or layered as a human's," he said.

That continuing need for human judgment is reshaping the skills the industry values.

Tang's company offers online courses for people hoping to enter the AI video business. About 40 percent of its trainees, he said, come from traditional film and design backgrounds, seeking a lifeline in a changing industry.

Universities are adapting as well. At the Communication University of Zhejiang, for example, senior students majoring in animation and digital arts work with companies to produce AI-generated dramas.

Jin said about one-fifth of senior students take part in such projects during their final year, learning how to use AI tools while also strengthening their command of storytelling, composition and direction.

"Equipping my students with the most current, cutting-edge skills is the fastest way to help them adapt to the industry," Jin said.

The goal, he added, is not to train students to rely entirely on AI, but to help them become more well-rounded creators — people with aesthetic judgment, directorial vision and a strong grasp of narrative structure.

"I hope each of them can become a complete team," Jin said. "That way, they can survive in the market no matter how the industry changes."