Character.AI bets on interactive microdramas to power a vertical-video future
Character.AI is launching c.ai Series, a mobile-first line of AI-generated, animated microdramas designed for vertical viewing where viewers can chat with on-screen characters after episodes. The initial slate includes Last Summer, The Nighttime Game, and Eden Fall, each with 10 episodes under two minutes; the first eight are free, with the last two behind a paywall. Produced in-house with human writers, the company plans to let creators make their own Series later using AI tools. Each episode uses a unique LLM to curb spoilers, and launch starts with 18+ access. The move signals Character.AI’s bid to become a broader storytelling platform amid a roughly $26 billion microdrama market, paralleling how traditional networks have pushed vertical video.”,
