Toonstar, an animation studio based in Los Angeles which adopted the use of the AI in its production pipeline, sign with the WME agency in a sign of its ambitions to extend its list of titles assisted by technology.
As part of the partnership, the studio behind YouTube Steven and Parker And snapchat Storytoons should work with WME on the development of a number of new animated series motivated by creators as well as on programs to different platforms and the development of means to monetize intellectual property.
“On the creative side, [the partnership] gives us access to world class talents, “said CEO and co-founder John Attanasio in a recent interview.” On the commercial side, while we are launching these projects with WME talents and start to put projects on the scale, I think they present a lot of opportunities – whether it is a series to a streaming, taking more form [or] Different ways to monetize the IP, which could happen through Merch, publishing, brands, sponsorships. »»
The first project that Toonstar and WME will deploy is an animated series produced in collaboration with the Malaysian actor and YouTuber Nigel Ng, expanding his viral character “Uncle Roger”. Ng Co-Créa and will express the new series, which will expand the world of “Uncle Roger”, a Asian man of average age with taken to grasp recipes.
“The expansion of uncle Roger’s narration possibilities through animation is something that I have dreamed of for a long time,” said NG, which has more than 10 million subscribers on its YouTube channel and has a chain of restaurants in Southeast Asia. He added in a press release that Toonstar “will help me, someone who cannot draw at all, animate Uncle Roger and bring him to life in a whole new way”.
Toonstar, with approximately 20 employees based in downtown the city, praises “ethical” use of AI. The company creates a tailor -made AI engine for each program it produces which is formed on art created expressly for this project. This engine can then produce a “first draft” of art from which designers can work, said director of director and co-founder Luisa Huang.
The technology is also used to create script failures, synchronize animated lips to dialogue, produce vocal doubs and analyze the viewer data. “We designed [the tech-assisted process] be at the service of content creation. And compliance with copyright and compliance of brands are in the center, ”added Huang.
Many basic animation workers deal with generating AI with a lot of suspicion, and for a good reason. The AI should upset the animation production process, with an investigation in 2024 with entertainment leaders believing that more than 200,000 animation jobs will be negatively impacted by technology by 2027. All this occurs because a larger part of the animation production pipeline is outsourced to other countries such as Canada and Australia.
But with the WME agreement, Attanasio and Huang argue that they will be able to scale an approach that will give more life to domestic production and, therefore, will open opportunities to the creatives. “All this is really [for] The objective of unlocking opportunities for creators who get less and less in Hollywood today, “said Attanasio, who says that the technology studio can delete obstacles to entry for people who could not get a green light on an animated project.” We have to do more things instead of doing less things. “
