Let’s Find Out More About ‘Produce 101’ in China: Songs, Judges, and More

The Success of Produce 101

After the first airing of Produce 101 back in 2016, more and more Produce 101 series have appeared. Starting from the ongoing season, Produce 101 Season 2, Produce 48, and Produce X 101, there is also an adaptation in various countries such as China and Japan. Fans really love the concept of survival show including one hundred trainees from various agencies to compete to form an idol group. Being in Produce 101 has actually helped a lot of other trainees, or an underrated idol, to get more recognition from the public with their talents.

In this article, Channel-Korea will be providing you with all the information you need to know about Produce 101‘s Chinese adaptation, Chuangzao 101. So, stay tuned!

About Chuàngzào 101

Chuàngzào 101, or also known as Produce 101 China, is on Tencent’s Chinese music survival competition where 101 female trainees from all sorts of agencies compete to form a new girl group of 11. The show is a spinoff of the South Korean television show Produce 101. The filming began on March 21st, 2018, and the show was released on Tencent Video on April 21st, 2018. The series is produced jointly by 7-D Vision and Tencent Penguin Pictures, operated by Mnet’s promoter, CJ E&M. The show received over 4.3 billion views on Tencent Video.

Since the popularity of Super Girl (2004-2006) in China, a national show that has generated as much attention from the public in the same way, has yet to come. Subsequently, while the series launched the careers of many young solo vocalists, the Chinese-speaking world has lacked female girl groups. S.H.E. was the biggest girl group in the early 2000s and there has been a lack of well-known organized girl groups as popular since then.

Chuàngzào 101 aims to create a brand new It girl group that represents modern women and the new generation appealing to all genders. Unlike the original version, this spinoff introduced a number of different rules and challenges starting in episode 2. Another such example is the introduction of “knock-out” challengers who can take the place of a 101 candidate in the initial “auditions” depending on the judgment of coaches about the skills of the challengers relative to the original trainees. Those members who had the highest votes in the first expulsion could also choose to save a member who was up for elimination as a “private” second chance.

Judges and Mentors

Not to be mistaken with iQIYI’s Idol Producer, including famous K-Pop stars such as EXO’s Lay, GOT7’s Jackson, and PRSTIN’s Kyulkyung, Produce 101 China features an equally impressive group of mentors. In an unexpected twist of fate, ex-EXO member Tao is announced as the show’s main host. S.H.E’s Ella and Chinese pop singer Jason Zhang will act as voice mentors, Chinese singer-songwriter Tiger Hu will be responsible for composition, while Mandopop dance king Show Luo and UNIQ’s Wang Yi-bo will take on the role of a dance instructor.

Here’s the complete list of the mentors:

And watch their appearance as mentors in the video below!

The mentors are just as amazing as the ones in the original version, right?

Trainees and Agencies

Similar to the Korean version, all of the trainees are presented by their agencies and choose from #1 to #101 where they want to sit. Once each girl is seated, the room darkens and Tao invites the mentors to each perform their own piece. After the mentors’ results have finished, contestants compete from grades A to F alongside their label mates for a pre-made party to be judged.

Check out the introduction of the trainees by their respective agencies:

And here is the complete list of trainees: