Recently, with the simultaneous release of popular ancient costume dramas on major long-video platforms, the competition for the summer blockbuster season has intensified. Among the many highly anticipated dramas, “Dashing Youth” , launched on Youku, stands out uniquely. It belongs to the traditional genre of martial arts dramas but has carved out a new path by presenting a fresh perspective and innovative production that resonates with a youthful audience.
Describing it succinctly as a good drama is challenging, yet this complexity doesn't hinder its spread among younger viewers. It vividly portrays the thrilling world of martial arts and paints a captivating picture of heroic figures. The bold youthful spirit and the protagonists' journey of growth in the vast world resonate deeply with the audience. The series features high-intensity action sequences and visually stunning designs that embrace traditional Chinese aesthetics, providing an engaging visual experience. Even though the ultimate goal may not be immediately apparent, following the young heroes as they navigate the martial arts world is compelling in itself.
In today's drama market, “Dashing Youth” represents a rare breed of martial arts drama that appeals to the “youthful” sentiment. However, its debut on Youku is not surprising. In recent years, Youku has accumulated considerable experience in producing youth-oriented high-energy dramas, from pioneering new martial arts dramas like “The Blood of Youth” to stirring educational dramas like “The Hope “. It successfully grounded urban fantasy with “I Am Nobody”. How does Youku precisely cater to the aesthetic tastes of young audiences? And how did the “Zhou Munan's Youthful Martial World Series”start from scratch in the youth martial arts genre, becoming a must-watch for young viewers? The premiere of “Dashing Youth” offers us an opportunity to explore these questions further.
Dashing Youth's Creative Basis
The “Zhou Munan's Youthful Martial World Series” began incubating around 2019, a time when the market for ancient costume dramas, particularly those focused on male audiences and martial arts, was on the fringe. Mainstream dramas leaned towards idol romance themes. When creating “The Blood of Youth” , Zhou Munan, as the original novelist and scriptwriter, initially worried that the platform might request changes, such as emphasizing romantic storylines. However, to his surprise, Youku expressed clear feedback to stick with core themes like ensemble casts, youth, and martial arts.
“Youku truly respects creators and commits fully to good content,” Zhou Munan reflects. He believes that the success of “The Blood of Youth” in pioneering a new path for youth-oriented martial arts dramas, followed by sequels like “Dashing Youth” and “An He Zhuan” (currently in production), is due to Youku's ability to judge quality content, understand young audience preferences, and respect artistic intuition. Despite having a solid foundation from “The Blood of Youth,” crafting a high-action, low-mysticism new martial arts drama like “Dashing Youth” remained on the fringe without direct competitors in the market. This rare positioning presented both opportunities and challenges for creators.
The initial inspiration for “Dashing Youth” was straightforward for Zhou Munan. Imagining the youthful adventures of middle-aged heroes from “The Blood of Youth” led to exploring their fathers' stories, forming the basis for the new series. However, the scriptwriting process underwent multiple revisions over three years. Initially considering incorporating trendy elements, the creative team ultimately opted for a subtractive approach, focusing on core themes and reaffirming the expression of “youthful vigor amidst gallant pursuits.”
Zhou Munan attributes the pure presentation of youthful spirit and martial arts in “Dashing Youth” to the collaborative support of Zhou Zhaozhong, the series' executive producer. Their partnership ensured that the project stayed true to its vision without compromising artistic integrity, a stark contrast to other instances where platforms might interfere excessively, leading to drastic changes and deviations from the original intent.
For Zhou Zhaozhong, the “Zhou Munan's Youthful Martial World Series” is strategically positioned to construct “new youth martial arts” narratives that resonate with contemporary young audiences through innovative themes, production styles, and martial heroism. This clear vision from the outset has allowed for continuous innovation and the challenge to surpass previous achievements, positioning the series as a leader in its genre.
Upgrade Youth and Martial Arts
In essence, “Dashing Youth” is not just an adventure on screen but also a personal journey of creative innovation and self-competition, setting new standards within its field. The evolution of youth and martial arts in “Dashing Youth” showcases a successful blend of continuity and innovation from its predecessor, “The Blood of Youth”. This series excels in two main aspects of inheriting and innovating traditional martial arts themes.
Firstly, it centers on a youthful essence, innovating the portrayal of heroic figures. Characters like Bai Li Dongjun, Ye Dingzhi, and Sikong Changfeng each bring unique backgrounds, personalities, and missions, yet they share common traits of purity, justice, and steadfast belief. This authenticity and commitment to fairness and responsibility resonate deeply with today's youth, embodying what is known as youthfulness, fostering empathy among young audiences.
Secondly, the series innovatively caters to contemporary aesthetic preferences, particularly in its portrayal of martial arts. By skillfully integrating elements of Chinese aesthetics, scenes like Gu Jianmen's sword dance in the rain vividly illustrate the concept of sharp swordsmanship. Another example is the intense showdown between Bai Li Dongjun and Ye Dingzhi amidst a forest of swords, accompanied by a cascade of cherry blossoms, exemplifying a poetic fluidity that captivates fans of Chinese aesthetic beauty.
In its connection to “The Blood of Youth,” “Dashing Youth” not only shares the same martial world setting but also intricately weaves together the destinies of its characters and relationships, maintaining logical consistency and deepening character dynamics. The seamless continuity and effective upgrade owe much to the return of key personnel and the backing of Studio, ensuring both creative support and platform stability from Youku.
Stylistically, “Dashing Youth” diverges from its predecessor by infusing elements of light comedy, presenting a visual style that is lively, bright, and graceful. This differentiation from “The Blood of Youth” is intentional yet aims to resonate equally with young audiences' evolving tastes. Looking ahead, the third installment of the “Zhou Munan's Youthful Martial World Series,” titled “An He Zhuan”, has already begun production. Unlike focusing on orthodox martial arts clans, this series delves into the secretive world of assassins, promising a more somber and darker visual style.
With “The Blood of Youth” emerging in 2022 and the current success of “Dashing Youth” and the ongoing production of “An He Zhuan” in the 2024 summer season, the “Zhou Munan's Youthful Martial World Series” has rapidly established itself with three distinct yet interconnected series. This achievement underscores the strategic planning and operational efficiency facilitated by studio in developing and realizing a promising new intellectual property.
A Two-Way Journey in the Name of Youth
“Dashing Youth” and the successful incubation of the “Zhou Munan's Youthful Martial World Series” owe much to Youku's commitment to both young creators and audiences. Youku embraces young creators by supporting their judgment and foresight in the market, establishing producer-centric studios under the “Producer-Centric Production” framework, as highlighted by Zhou Zhaozhong. This approach allows him to focus fully on content creation, significantly enhancing productivity without concerns about ancillary resources.
Moreover, Youku provides ample opportunities for young writers and directors, offering maximum trust and creative space. This support has enabled young creators like Zhou Munan to swiftly progress from newcomers to cutting-edge talents. For Zhou Munan, Youku not only offers creative freedom and timely returns but also platforms for industry advocacy, fostering a sense of mutual growth.
Beyond nurturing creators, Youku excels in aligning with the entertainment consumption needs of young audiences. In the competitive landscape of long-form video content, Youku stands out in innovative genres like action-packed adaptations, premium mysteries, and fantasy epics, resonating deeply with young viewers' aesthetic and emotional expectations. This precise understanding of young audience psychology ensures that their narratives reflect self-recognition, emotional release, and affirmation of values, a guiding principle consistently upheld in content creation.
In essence, “Dashing Youth” encapsulates a core theme of empowering youth to be protagonists in their own worlds. It signifies returning the narrative power to the youth, accompanying them through the journey of discovery, growth, resilience, and hopefulness despite challenges. Thus, beyond breaking new ground in youth-oriented martial arts, “Dashing Youth” symbolizes Youku's ongoing commitment to young audiences, marking another significant stride in their mutual journey under the banner of youth.
