PRODUCT RESEARCH
ReelShort
This research note is kept separate from the app profile so the main page stays focused on ranking data.
One-line positioning
ReelShort is the vertical micro-drama platform launched in 2022 by Crazy Maple Studio (Maple Leaf Interactive), the overseas subsidiary of Chinese Online (Shenzhen: 300364). It is regarded as the originator of the paid short-drama export category and ranks among the highest in revenue and brand recognition in the US market.
Product & company
Store listings and the privacy policy show that ReelShort's publisher of record is New Leaf Publishing, Inc., while the data controller is Crazy Maple Studio Inc. (Sunnyvale, California). These are distinct legal entities within the same US group, not independent parties. The domestic parent is Chinese Online (COL Group, Shenzhen: 300364), with Crazy Maple Studio as its overseas subsidiary. Multiple authoritative media and Chinese Online's annual reports confirm this relationship.
Business model & format
ReelShort centers on 1–2 minute live-action shorts produced with US-based writers and actors, led by CEO romance, werewolf, vampire and wealthy-family tropes. The first episodes are free, later ones are unlocked with coins, and weekly/monthly subscriptions plus rewarded ads are offered. A differentiating feature is interactive, choose-your-own-path storytelling. Its IP draws heavily from Chinese Online's digital catalog, and it leads the top tier in production budget and brand recognition.
Growth & market
ReelShort acquires users through Meta, TikTok and Google Ads combined with a full social media presence (FB/YouTube/IG/TikTok). Its “CEO romance” dramas broke out in the West; Q1 2026 US revenue was roughly US$80M, and it has been widely covered by TIME100, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal as a flagship case of China's content going global.
Risks & watchpoints
The entity evidence is solid and the product is stably classified as paid (free content is only a teaser). One caveat: the publisher name (New Leaf Publishing) differs from the data controller name (Crazy Maple Studio), and should not be read as two separate companies. Chinese Online's exact stake in Crazy Maple Studio is not public, and past copyright disputes are worth monitoring for brand impact.