Who is the IP King of 2015? Check out the top 10 most popular TV adaptations of the year

This year, the box office revenue of movies exceeded 10 billion in just 94 days, and the number of hits of online dramas exceeded 400 million per day, with the ratings hitting new highs. The prosperity is closely related to the popular IPs, and the "money-making effect" brought by the popular IPs is eye-catching. A recent online survey showed that 64.2% of the respondents like to watch film and television works adapted from popular IPs, but 47.2% of the respondents said they have aesthetic fatigue for the adapted IPs, and 56.1% of the respondents feel that IPs rely on gimmicks to create bubbles.

Everyone has their own preferences. Who is the "IP King" in 2015? Now, let's review the top 10 popular IPs of 2015.

10. Hua Xu Yin: The City of Absolute Love

IP related: novels, TV series

The play is adapted from the novel "Hua Xu Yin" written by Tang Qi Gongzi. As a fine product of Chinese style, this IP has won a lot of fans who love Chinese style. The stage play adapted from it can be seen on the stage of ChinaJoy cosplay in previous years. "Hua Xu Yin" is a costume fantasy drama that landed on the screen in the summer, and the plot of the TV series has been greatly adapted.

Popularity ★★★☆

Ratings ★★★

Tucao index ★★ ★ ★☆

How bad is "The Legend of Hua Xu: City of Absolute Love"? Some netizens complained that it proved that "The Legend of Hua Xu: City of Absolute Love" was nothing! As another drama that the fans of the original novel cannot complain about, "The Legend of Hua Xu: City of Absolute Love" is actually produced by Ciwen Films, just like "The Journey of Flower". The biased style makes people unable to watch it directly. There is only one comment: the three views are destroyed, the yin and yang are disordered, the world is broken, and the gods and ghosts are upside down. Putting aside the original novel, the acting and feeling are still worth watching.

9. The Journey of Flower

IP related: novels, TV series, mobile games, web games, comics

The original work of "The Journey of Flower" has received hundreds of millions of hits and nearly 50,000 long book reviews since it was first serialized on Jinjiang Literature Network, which shows the fans' expectations for the drama. After the drama was broadcast, the ratings soared, and the mobile games, web games and comics adapted from the same name were also released, with huge traffic.

Popularity ★★★★★

Ratings ★★★★★

Tucao index ★★★☆

The cheap special effects, the poor restoration of the arms and characters, the plot with some thunder spots, the exaggerated acting of the young actors, and the unbelievable plot twists were all complained by kind-hearted viewers while watching the show with tears in their eyes. The masochistic viewers were so used to it that they still watched it with relish on TV and computers. In addition to having to endure the 20-minute repetition of the plot at the beginning of each episode, the inexplicable new characters and the nonsensical reversals, the magical plot and characters still made people unable to extricate themselves.

8. My Sunshine

IP related: novels, TV series

The original novel of "My Sunshine" was published in 2006, and it took 9 years for it to be adapted into a TV series and broadcast on Mango TV this year. This is a long enough time for an IP to accumulate fans, but the popularity of the IP is far less than when the novel was first published. However, Mango TV + "IP adaptation" has guaranteed that there are enough fans to pay for it.

Popularity ★★★★

Ratings ★★★★

Tucao index ★★★☆

Although "My Sunshine" produced by Mango TV is an adapted IP, it is different from other adapted IPs and is still a Taiwanese idol drama at heart. To be honest, whether it is the production level, script, lines, costumes, etc., all aspects are still at the level of Taiwanese idol dramas ten years ago, but it can't withstand the hype of appearance + IP, and successfully harvested most of the ratings in the first half of this year. In addition, Mango TV has the strength to realize the full media development of this IP and maximize the benefits.

7. The Disguiser

IP related: novels, TV series

The Disguiser was originally called The Spy War in Shanghai. It is set during the Anti-Japanese War and is a spy drama between Japan, the Nationalist Party, and the Communist Party. When the adaptation was announced, I thought it was another bad drama. The entire drama uses the original cast of Nirvana in Fire, and the gay atmosphere remains the same. The last time this was done was in Wong Kar-wai's Ashes of Time, and the original cast was used by Stephen Chow to make A Chinese Odyssey. The lines and dialogues are sophisticated, the plot is tight, and the logic is clear. The Disguiser is undoubtedly a wonderful spy idol drama.

Popularity ★★★★

Ratings ★★★★☆

Tucao index ★★☆

When it comes to anti-Japanese dramas and spy films, the first thing that comes to mind is the thunder dramas such as tearing up the devils with bare hands and shooting down airplanes with pistols. In terms of lineup, it is not as good as the movie emperors in Peking All Quiet, who can fill two mahjong tables; in terms of momentum, it is not as magnificent as the vicissitudes of life; in terms of historical basis, it is not as rigorous as the rigorousness of Bright Sword. However, even so, "The Pretender" has been praised continuously after it was broadcast. Why? Because Minglou and Ah Cheng failed to imitate Xu Wenqiang and Ding Li, but they created a new CP in the history of TV dramas. The sweet and cute characters made this TV drama, which was under the banner of a serious drama, deviate from the right track but unexpectedly gained a large number of female fans. The most worth mentioning is that although it is also a follow-up IP adaptation drama, the production level is far higher than the average of domestic dramas at this stage, especially some anti-Japanese spy dramas.

6. He's Coming, Please Close Your Eyes

IP related: novels, TV series

"Love me, If you dare" is the English translation of "He's Coming, Please Close Your Eyes". From the translation, we can see that this so-called detective suspense film is essentially a romance drama. The original novel was serialized on Jinjiang Literature City, and successfully led the trend of "mystery romance" in the online literature industry with its unique sweet and suspenseful style. It was published in 2014 and adapted into the screen in 2015. It has to be said that this IP is running very quickly and impressively. In addition, the popularity of "The Pretender" and "Nirvana in Fire" has not subsided, and the marketing method of piggybacking on IP has made its popularity rise to a higher level.

Popularity ★★★☆

Ratings ★★★★

Tucao index ★★★

The drama gained attention mainly due to the popularity of "The Disguiser" and "Nirvana in Fire", but if you watched "He's Coming, Please Close Your Eyes" because of those two dramas, you will probably be slapped in the face by the style of this drama. This drama is also known as the mainland version of "Talking about Love and Cases", which is a traditional bloody story of "the domineering president falls in love with me".

From "The Battle of Changsha" to "The Disguiser" and then to "Here Comes, Please Close Your Eyes", the golden body of Shandong Film and Television Production Group seems to be broken in the process of seeking transformation. The FBI logo that is impossible to appear in China, the exaggerated blood-spattering shooting shots... It is a miracle that such settings can pass the review. The simultaneous update of the network and satellite TV should be learned from "Nirvana in Fire". This move greatly shares the cost and risk of purchasing films, and to a large extent avoids the long road of copyright promotion and satellite TV scheduling, ensuring that the film is updated in time and keeping the IP hot. It is still worth looking forward to whether Shanying can lead domestic dramas out of the impetuous trend of following the trend of buying IP to make money.

5. Grave Robbers' Chronicles

IP related: novels, web dramas, movies, mobile games, web games, comics, stage plays

"Grave Robbers' Chronicles" is a tomb-robbing novel written by Nanpai Sanshu, which has won the enthusiastic pursuit of millions of book fans and made Nanpai Sanshu famous all over the world. The plot of "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" is tortuous and bizarre, with supernatural powers and extremely strange and changeable stories. The scenes are grand and the characters are deeply portrayed. Since the announcement of its adaptation into a web drama, the expectations of book fans have only increased.

Popularity ★★★★★

Ratings ★★★★★

Tucao index ★★★★ ★

"Grave Robbers' Chronicles" is known as a super online drama. After whetting the appetite of novel fans, "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" was launched on June 12. After it was launched on iQiyi, the ratings and clicks soared, reaching 24 million in two minutes, and breaking 100 million in less than 22 hours. However, the adaptation is very different from the original novel. "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" has become "treasure protection". Let's hand over the hair in front of the brother's eyes to the country. The five-cent special effects are no longer the most worthy of complaints. The sponsors are always stealing the spotlight, and the inexplicable love lines are complained by almost everyone who pays attention to it, pouring a lot of cold water on this super IP. It has to be admitted that this is a "magic drama that even the original fans can't spoil."

4. "Why Sheng Xiao Si"

IP related: novels, TV series, movies, radio dramas

"Silent Separation" is adapted from a romance novel published in 2003. The drama premiered on Jiangsu Satellite TV and Dragon TV on January 10, 2015, followed by Anhui Satellite TV, and updated simultaneously on video websites. It was also broadcast on MBC, one of the three major TV stations in South Korea, setting a precedent for simultaneous broadcasts on satellite TV and online platforms.

Popularity ★★★★★

Ratings ★★★★☆

Tucao index ★★★

It's fine to watch a romantic idol drama, but if you really use this drama to guide your love life or to feel sad about the passing of time, you've lost. Although the campus love part is very beautiful and evokes beautiful memories of college love, the story seven years later can only be said to be a girl's fantasy. In the first half of the year, most of the discussions about IP focused on "Silent Separation". As the first IP adaptation in 2015, it did a good job.

3. Ghost Blows Out the Light

IP related: novels, TV series, movies, games, stage plays

The original novel of "Ghost Blows Out the Light" received great attention as soon as it was published in 2006, and the adaptation copyright was finalized in 2007. It is the first IP to be decided to be adapted in this list. It has to be said that "Ghost Blows Out the Light" has influenced the creation of a generation of online writers. The popular "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" was originally a fan fiction of "Ghost Blows Out the Light". However, it was not until this year that the movie adapted from "Ghost Blows Out the Light" landed on the screen. The 8-year IP accumulation and backward operation made its popularity surpassed by the latecomers, which is a pity.

Popularity ★★★★

Ratings ★★★

Tucao index ★★★★☆

The original author of "Ghost Blows Out the Light", Tianxia Bachang, once boasted that no one in the tomb-robbing genre could surpass "Ghost Blows Out the Light". As for the novel, "Grave Robbers' Chronicles" does not have a complete logical chain like "Ghost Blows Out the Light". As for the adaptation, "Ghost Blows Out the Light" is far inferior to "Ghost Blows Out the Light". Not to mention that "Ghost Blows Out the Light" has only had a movie released this year, and the three words "Ghost Blows Out the Light" were erased to avoid suspicion. The 180° setting reversal from tomb robbing to the People's Liberation Army fighting small monsters is more difficult to accept than "protecting treasures". The so-called huge investment of five-cent special effects, the incomprehensible plot interspersed, anyway, it has basically nothing to do with the original work. It is not surprising that consumer IPs make money by adapting IPs. This is a magical action visual effects blockbuster in a red coat.

2. The Legend of Miyue

IP related: novels, TV series, movies

The original novel of "Legend of Miyue" describes the ups and downs of Mi Bazi's legendary life in the style of a young girl. "Legend of Miyue" is said to have invested more than 200 million yuan, but even so, the cost was recovered by selling the broadcast rights, not to mention the subsequent IP monetization methods.

Not surprisingly, the TV ratings and online broadcast volume performed well. On the first day of broadcast, the ratings of "Legend of Miyue" on Beijing TV and Dragon TV reached 1.726 and 1.56 respectively, and the total number of broadcasts on online broadcast platforms LeTV and Tencent Video exceeded 300 million times, and this number is still rising.

Popularity ★★★★

Ratings ★★★★★

Tucao index ★★★★☆

As a TV series that is going to compete with The Legend of Zhen Huan, The Legend of Miyue has been promoted extensively online for more than half a year, which has whetted the appetite of the audience. Once it was broadcast, although it was not so bad that it was unbearable to watch, the higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment. Cheap accessories, rough furnishings, studio-style clothing, and lines that are blunt and explicit and do not conform to the setting... This TV series that claims to restore and respect historical facts has been criticized by all parties, not to mention the previous lawsuit with the original author that caused a lot of trouble and annoyed people. Objectively speaking, a group of innocent girls and aunts with girlish hearts contributed to the extremely high ratings of this drama, but no matter how good the queen's acting skills are or how bizarre the plot is, it cannot save the reputation of this drama.

1. Nirvana in Fire

IP related: novels, TV series, mobile games

"Nirvana in Fire" is adapted from the online novel of the same name by Hai Yan. It focuses on redressing unjust cases, supporting wise rulers, and revitalizing the country. It tells the story of the "unicorn talent" Mei Changsu, who is extremely talented, uses his weak body to dispel the fog and outsmart the treacherous, and fights a series of struggles to redress the years of unjust cases and support the new ruler. The drama was launched on Beijing and Dragon TV on September 19, 2015, and was broadcast on online platforms such as iQiyi at the same time. As a representative of the current video website's counterattack on TV ratings after achieving high clicks, "Nirvana in Fire" staged a wonderful "revenge".

Popularity ★★★★★

Ratings ★★★★★

Tucao Index★☆

How popular is Nirvana in Fire? It is still being hotly discussed several months after the TV series was broadcast. All walks of life have to borrow its name to say something. The positioning of "phenomenal level" shows how popular it is. Conscientious production, exquisite details, excellent production team, highly restored plot... Almost all the compliments have to be applied to this drama. What is even more commendable is that as a fictional historical drama, it can also learn from the past and understand the present. It has to be said that it is a very bold and novel approach. This alone is enough for the audience to remember. The money-making index of Nirvana in Fire is also unmatched by other dramas. Not to mention how much the broadcast rights have been sold, the peripheral products developed by Prince Jing and Mei Changsu are hot-selling, and the second sequel is also on the agenda. It is a successful model of IP-adapted dramas and the well-deserved "IP" king this year.

If the cultural industry is likened to a big tree, IP is the root of the tree. With the root, the leaves such as movies, TV, games, etc. can grow. IP development is a double-edged sword for TV series. TV series with IP have a fixed fan base, so the risk of adaptation will be reduced, but how to make good use of this IP and how to make good use of this fan base is another matter. 2015 was the year of the blowout of IP adaptation dramas, which gave us a lot to think about. We look forward to the emergence of more high-quality IP dramas in 2016.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.