As per company statements, COL AI Studios has been established as a fresh entertainment division aimed at assisting brands, studios, and platforms in creating, evaluating, and expanding content past standard licensing agreements. Drawing from content originating in China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, the studio relies on a worldwide distribution framework now featuring over 5,000 live-action titles—a substantial growth from its initial roster of slightly above 1,000 when the network first debuted.
Global Distribution and Microdrama Ecosystem Expansion
The launch of COL AI Studios accompanies a broader push by COL Group to build a structured microdrama ecosystem on an international scale. According to reporting from ContentAsia, the China-listed microdrama leader unveiled a new distribution partnership network during the second annual MIP London event in London.
The newly structured distribution framework establishes regional partnerships across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the CIS, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Key distribution partners involved in the network include Narativ for MENA, CIS, and Africa; Harbour Rights for Europe and Latin America; and ROCK Networks, which serves as the exclusive telco distribution partner for COL’s app FlareFlow, as reported by ContentAsia.
Did you know? COL Group’s international division operates out of Singapore, coordinating content pipelines that span the UK, India, South Korea, and the Middle East.
International Content Partnerships and Supply Lines
To feed its growing distribution network, COL has expanded its supply lines through targeted content partnerships. According to ContentAsia, the company inked an exclusive global partnership with Dubai-based production house Lemon Mint Films’ microdrama platform, BlingWood. This agreement grants COL access to microdrama content originating from the Middle East and India. BlingWood launched with original series such as “Kadak Coffee”, “Dooriyan Hi Hai Zaroori”, and “Forget Me Not”.
COL’s broader pipeline incorporates Indian series from Pratilipi, Korean titles from BeLive Studios, and British reality-led formats from Tattle TV, including titles like “Dog Dates”, according to ContentAsia. The combined network now encompasses more than 1,700 titles in multiple languages, positioning the company to scale its catalog across diverse international markets.
AI Integration and Responsible Production Models
COL AI Studios adds a specialized development layer to this distribution foundation, capable of moving proven intellectual property and original concepts into animation, short-form and long-form series, advertising, branded entertainment, and live-action formats. The initiative arrives as generative production tools accelerate content creation speed and volume. However, according to company statements, COL AI Studios positions itself differently by pairing established creative teams, commercially tested IP, and audience data with responsible AI methodologies aimed at franchise longevity.
The company frames artificial intelligence as a production method rather than a finished product, utilizing technology to test ideas and gauge audience responses before greenlighting higher-budget productions. COL Group’s library features thousands of commercially proven microdrama titles backed by a roster exceeding 500 creative and production personnel—including writers, directors, producers, editors, and artists—based in Los Angeles, China, and Southeast Asia. Existing studio operations have already delivered more than 300 AI-assisted productions.
According to Timothy Oh, general manager of COL Group International, artificial intelligence serves primarily as a delivery mechanism for storytelling. “AI is ultimately another way of delivering a story,” Oh stated, noting that the technology helps creators and platforms understand concept performance before committing to live-action production. He added that greater access to tools does not automatically improve entertainment, emphasizing that storytelling, creative direction, and responsible use remain paramount.
Franchise Scaling and Commercial Partnerships
For external partners, the new studio broadens pathways for IP development, spanning licensing, localization, animation, AI-powered production, branded entertainment, and premium live action. COL AI Studios is also advancing into branded AI entertainment, collaborating with commercial partners to leverage its production network. Some early projects have already scaled into multi-season properties, such as “Love Missions Across the Galaxy”, which expanded into a three-season franchise with localized versions in more than 10 languages and reached the number one spot in five overseas language markets.
Ray Tong, CEO of COL Group, highlighted the company’s evolution in applying these methods. According to Tong, AI-powered content has increasingly integrated into mainstream storytelling in China, providing operational experience that the company now aims to introduce to international platforms and brands while adapting to varying levels of market receptiveness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is COL AI Studios?
COL AI Studios is an entertainment vertical launched by COL Group to help platforms, studios, and brands develop, test, and scale content across animation, short-form and long-form series, advertising, and live-action formats using responsible AI production methods.
Who leads COL Group’s international operations?
COL’s international division is headquartered in Singapore and led by Timothy Oh, general manager of COL Group International.
What partnerships support COL’s global distribution network?
COL’s network relies on regional distribution partners including Narativ (MENA, CIS, and Africa), Harbour Rights (Europe and Latin America), and ROCK Networks (exclusive telco partner for the FlareFlow app), alongside content suppliers like BlingWood, Pratilipi, BeLive Studios, and Tattle TV, according to industry reports.
Worth a look