Fanqie Fiction is promoting the release of AI anime in theaters and opening up the adaptation rights of top IPs | Exclusive from 36Kr

Author | Lan Jie, Li Xiaoxia

Editor | Qiao Qian

36Kr exclusively learned that according to multiple sources close to ByteDance, Tomato Fiction, a subsidiary of ByteDance, is promoting the release of AI - animated movies in theaters. In this process, the adaptation rights of top IPs on the Tomato Fiction platform will be opened up.

For Tomato Fiction, how to better tap the potential and commercial value of good IPs on the platform is an urgent problem to be solved.

On the one hand, IP content in written form lacks a unified visual image, making it difficult for IPs on the platform to have more diverse monetization forms such as co - branding and derivatives. On the other hand, the new thing of AI - made comic dramas has developed rapidly, and there are many shoddy works adapted from Tomato Fiction IPs. These contents not only fail to extend the lifespan of good IPs but also consume them. At this time, exploring more possibilities of platform IPs through theatrical film and television content is a good attempt.

According to the above - mentioned informed sources, ByteDance has set an influence goal for Tomato IPs internally, "hoping that people inside and outside the industry will think that Tomato's productions are high - quality and positive." Translating this requirement into specific business, releasing movies in theaters would be a good answer.

As early as the end of 2023, Tomato Fiction officially announced the establishment of two brands, "Tomato Film and Television" and "Tomato Animation", to promote the film and television adaptation of platform IPs. In the past two years, Tomato Film and Television has successively cooperated with long - form video platforms such as Tencent Video, iQiyi, and Youku to promote the adaptation of top platform IPs such as *Ten Days to the End* and *I Learn to Slay Gods in a Mental Asylum*, but most of these cooperations have remained at the IP licensing stage.

Although the Tomato series (ByteDance's businesses mainly including Tomato Fiction and Red Fruit Short Dramas) doesn't have to worry about money, the long - form video business, which has high costs and a long return cycle, obviously doesn't conform to the "ByteDance logic" that relies on large - scale investment in traffic and requires rapid market feedback. It wasn't until the emergence of AI that the cost was significantly reduced and the efficiency was improved.

36Kr also learned from another informed source that the Red Fruit Comic Drama side is now purchasing 120 - minute non - episodic long - form content, which is also the direction that major video platforms are competing for.

The reason for launching AI - animated content instead of AI - simulated human content may be related to the current capabilities of AI large - scale models. A top AIGC creator in the industry told 36Kr that the capabilities of large - scale video - generation models can now produce 120 - minute long - form content. However, in the field of simulated humans, the consistency of characters and scenes remains a difficult problem. Animated content can, to a certain extent, make up for the lack of consistency through some prominent character image designs, such as colorful hair and freckles.

Looking back at the not - so - long development history of the Tomato series, it can be said to be a breakthrough for ByteDance in the cultural and entertainment field. Before the emergence of Tomato Fiction, ByteDance had never been able to build sufficient content capabilities and IP accumulation. Now, from novels to short dramas and then to comic dramas, the Tomato series has the full - chain ability for IP development.

Meanwhile, the Tomato series is obviously not satisfied with just staying in the current free market. It is exploring more diverse business models, including online subscriptions and box - office revenues in theaters and other commercial possibilities.