News/Animation
Hollywood agents pursue AI teen “Tilly Norwood” despite SAG-AFTRA pushback
SAG-AFTRA has issued a sharp rebuke against AI talent studio Xicoia's attempt to market "Tilly Norwood," an artificial intelligence-generated performer, to Hollywood agents and producers. The union's statement comes after reports emerged that talent agents have been quietly pursuing representation for the AI character, marking a potential flashpoint in ongoing tensions between the entertainment industry and synthetic performers. What you should know: Xicoia, launched by Dutch technologist Emily Van der Velden through her company Particle 6 Productions, has spent five months building Norwood's digital presence on Instagram with headshots, candids, and motion graphics.• The AI performer is designed to appear...
read Sep 26, 2025CreateAI launches anime video AI platform “Animon” in China
CreateAI has launched Animon, the world's first anime-specific video generation platform, in China months before its planned global rollout. The strategic China-first launch highlights how AI companies are adapting their market entry strategies to navigate different regulatory environments while addressing growing concerns about copyright and ownership in AI-generated content. What you should know: Animon represents a specialized approach to AI video generation, targeting the massive anime market with content specifically designed for that artistic style. The platform launched in China ahead of its global release, suggesting CreateAI, an AI development company, sees significant opportunity in the Chinese market for anime-style...
read Sep 25, 2025Nvidia open-sources Audio2Face AI tool for realistic 3D avatar animations
Nvidia has open-sourced Audio2Face, its AI-powered tool that generates realistic facial animations for 3D avatars based on audio input. The move allows developers worldwide to integrate the technology into games and applications, potentially accelerating the development of more lifelike digital characters across the entertainment and tech industries. What you should know: Audio2Face analyzes acoustic features in voice recordings to automatically generate facial expressions and lip movements for 3D characters. The tool can create animations for both pre-scripted content and real-time livestreams, offering flexibility for different use cases. Developers gain access to the underlying models, software development kits, and training frameworks...
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Robosen debuts retrofuturistic, programmable Disney character robots
Robosen Robotics has unveiled a collection of programmable Disney and Pixar character robots that bridge the gap between childhood nostalgia and cutting-edge technology. The company, a leader in consumer robotics with 15 years of development experience, is launching what it calls the world's first modular smart toy platform—essentially transforming beloved animated characters into interactive, programmable companions. Available for pre-order starting September 25, the collection features characters from Toy Story and WALL-E, each equipped with precision engineering that enables authentic movements, character voices, and programmable behaviors. This represents a significant evolution from traditional action figures, offering users the ability to create...
read Sep 24, 2025Roblox removes AI character after copyright dispute raises ownership questions
Tupac Shakur? No, Tung Tung Tung Sahur. Roblox's most popular game, Steal a Brainrot, has removed the AI-generated character Tung Tung Tung Sahur following a copyright dispute between the game's developer and the character's Indonesian creator. The controversy highlights the murky legal landscape surrounding intellectual property rights for AI-generated content, as millions of players demand answers about who can actually own characters created with artificial intelligence. What you should know: Tung Tung, a wooden log man character, disappeared from Steal a Brainrot on September 13 after France-based company Mementum Labs claimed copyright infringement on behalf of creator Noxaasht. The character...
read Sep 18, 2025Studios rejected Stallone’s AI-powered Rambo origin story. But nothing is over?
Sylvester Stallone revealed he previously pitched an AI-powered "Rambo" prequel that would use de-aging technology to show him as an 18-year-old John Rambo in Vietnam. The actor disclosed this during a podcast interview while promoting the upcoming third season of "Tulsa King," as Hollywood continues exploring AI applications for visual effects and storytelling. What they're saying: Stallone believes AI technology has advanced enough to make his vision feasible, though studios initially rejected the concept. "Everyone thought I was crazy," Stallone recalled about his AI de-aging pitch. "AI is sophisticated enough to go through Saigon to see him at 18 years...
read Sep 8, 2025Chinese AI startup Tripo hits $12M revenue with hopeful “3D TikTok” tool
Tripo, a Chinese 3D AI company, has reached $12 million in annual recurring revenue and secured tens of millions in pre-A+ funding just two and a half years after its founding. The startup's latest release, Tripo Studio 3.0, represents what CEO Simon Song calls the first "product-ready" 3D generation technology, potentially enabling a future consumer platform he describes as "3D TikTok." What you should know: Tripo has built a substantial professional user base while developing technology that could democratize 3D content creation. The company serves more than three million professional users globally and has signed over 40,000 studios and corporate...
read Sep 8, 2025OpenAI backs AI-animated film “Critterz” with $30M budget
OpenAI is backing "Critterz," an AI-generated animated feature film set to debut at the Cannes Film Festival before hitting theaters worldwide in 2026. The company hopes this low-budget production will demonstrate AI's viability in Hollywood and convince skeptical film executives to embrace generative artificial intelligence for movie production. The big picture: OpenAI is making a strategic push into entertainment with a full-length animated film produced primarily using its AI tools, including the recently launched GPT-5 model. Key details: "Critterz" represents a dramatic shift in how animated films could be made, with production costs and timelines that challenge industry norms. The...
read Sep 2, 2025Animation industry divided on AI as creators fear job loss, reports entertainment data provider Luminate
A new report from Luminate, an entertainment data provider, reveals that generative AI has become a "divisive" topic within the animation industry, with creators and studios split on how to integrate AI-powered tools into production workflows. The findings underscore the growing tension between AI's potential to accelerate production and reduce costs versus concerns about creative integrity, job security, and ethical implications. Why this matters: Animation has emerged as a crucial content category for streaming platforms, with anime fans proving to be among the most engaged audiences across multiple platforms. Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" recently became the most-streamed original movie in...
read Aug 29, 2025Southeast Asian studios create AI-powered animated anthology about tech relationship
Singapore studios HIP Studios and FizzDragon have partnered with Philippine indie publisher 8Letters to co-produce "AI: Love & Hate," a 90-minute animated anthology feature exploring humanity's relationship with artificial intelligence. The collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind partnership in Southeast Asia that combines traditional animation with generative AI technology to adapt stories from independent Asian authors, positioning the region as an emerging hub for AI-driven content creation. What you should know: The sci-fi anthology will comprise six 15-minute stories adapted from novels by independent authors, examining conflicted emotions surrounding technological advancement. The feature will be released in both English and Mandarin-language versions,...
read Aug 28, 2025Animation studio collapses after founder’s misguided overreliance on AI
A small animation agency specializing in educational and NGO content collapsed into administration in July after its founder became over-reliant on generative AI tools as a solution to mounting business pressures. The agency's demise offers a stark warning about the risks of implementing AI without proper oversight, particularly for small creative firms where quality and accuracy are paramount to client relationships. What happened: The 24-person animation studio, which worked with prestigious clients on complex educational content, fell victim to its founder's misguided belief that AI could solve fundamental business challenges. The founder increasingly pushed AI-generated voiceovers, scripts, and even visual...
read Jul 21, 2025Netflix debuts AI-created building collapse scenes in “The Eternaut.” Here’s where you can spot it.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed during the company's latest earnings call that the streaming giant used AI-generated content in its original series "The Eternaut," marking the first time Netflix has incorporated AI-created footage in an original production. The AI was used to generate scenes of a building collapsing in the post-apocalyptic drama, completing the visual effects sequence "10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional VFX tools and workflow." What you should know: The AI-generated content appears in two brief shots showing portions of a building falling to the ground in episode 6 at the 59:50 mark....
read Jul 18, 2025Netflix deploys AI for first time in original production to create visual effects for “The Eternauts”
Netflix has used generative artificial intelligence to create visual effects on screen for the first time in one of its original productions, according to co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The streaming giant deployed AI technology to generate a building collapse scene in the Argentine science fiction series "The Eternauts," marking a significant milestone in the entertainment industry's adoption of AI-generated content. What you should know: Netflix's use of generative AI represents the first time the company has incorporated AI-created visual effects into final footage for an original series or film. The AI technology was used specifically to create a scene showing a...
read Jul 17, 2025Candy Crush maker King fires 200 workers to replace them with AI they built
Two major gaming companies recently demonstrated how not to handle AI-driven workforce changes, with King (maker of Candy Crush) laying off 200 employees to replace them with AI tools those same workers had built, and Microsoft's Xbox division posting AI-generated artwork for new job openings just after conducting layoffs. These incidents highlight a growing concern about how companies communicate and implement AI-driven changes while maintaining employee trust and morale. What happened at King: The mobile gaming giant announced layoffs affecting approximately 200 staff members, primarily targeting middle management and UX and narrative copywriting roles. Multiple sources inside King alleged that...
read Jul 16, 2025Disney’s AI-powered droids now roam theme parks and cruise ships worldwide
Disney Imagineering has deployed BDX droids powered by reinforcement learning AI at its theme parks worldwide, marking a significant leap forward in bringing animated characters to life in the real world. The technology enables these bipedal robots to develop personality and emotional responses autonomously, while dramatically accelerating Disney's character development process from years to weeks. What you should know: Disney's BDX droids represent the entertainment giant's first major deployment of AI-powered robotics, building on decades of audio-animatronics innovation. The droids have been charming guests at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge since fall 2023 and now operate across Disney parks in Florida,...
read Jul 10, 2025AI-generated child abuse imagery surges 400% in first half of 2025
Reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery have surged 400% in the first half of 2025, according to new data from the Internet Watch Foundation, a UK-based nonprofit that monitors illegal content online. The alarming increase highlights how readily available artificial intelligence tools are being weaponized to create illegal content that is often indistinguishable from real footage, forcing authorities to treat it as actual abuse material under UK law. The stark numbers: The Internet Watch Foundation recorded 210 webpages containing AI-generated child abuse material in the first six months of 2025, compared to just 42 in the same period the...
read Jul 3, 2025Crunchyroll accidentally exposes AI subtitle use with “ChatGPT said:” error
Crunchyroll accidentally left "ChatGPT said:" in the German subtitles of a new anime series, exposing the streaming service's use of AI-generated translations. The embarrassing error appeared in the premiere episode of "Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show" and highlights ongoing quality concerns with the platform's subtitle accuracy. What you should know: The AI slipup occurred around the 19:12 mark in the German subtitles, where "ChatGPT said:" was left embedded in the dialogue. The error was still visible as of the morning after fans first spotted it on social media. This isn't Crunchyroll's first subtitle controversy — in late 2023, the...
read Jul 1, 2025Google launches AI Mode search with animated Doodle across platforms
Google has launched a new Doodle promoting AI Mode, its enhanced search experience that uses artificial intelligence to deliver comprehensive results. The promotion appears across Google's homepage, Chrome New Tab pages, and mobile apps, featuring animated graphics that transform Google's logo letters into the company's gradient 'G' icon to symbolize how AI Mode combines and summarizes information. What you should know: The Doodle campaign represents Google's most visible push yet for AI Mode adoption, appearing in multiple formats across its platforms. On the US homepage, both signed-in and logged-out users see a bouncy animation where the Google wordmark letters combine...
read Jun 27, 2025Disney’s “Ironheart” reimagines AI through Afrofuturist lens
Disney+'s new Marvel series "Ironheart" features N.A.T.A.L.I.E., an AI assistant created from the consciousness of a Black girl from Chicago, offering a fresh perspective on artificial intelligence representation in popular media. The fictional AI, developed by protagonist Riri Williams, challenges traditional virtual assistant dynamics by incorporating cultural identity and personal relationships into AI design, potentially influencing how audiences think about the future of AI development. What you should know: The series centers on Riri Williams, a young Black engineer who creates an advanced AI for her iron suit after being expelled from MIT. N.A.T.A.L.I.E. (Neuro Autonomous Technical Assistant and Laboratory...
read Jun 27, 2025Google opens Veo 3 AI video generator with synchronized audio to Cloud users
Google has made Veo 3, its AI video generator capable of producing synchronized video and audio content, available to all Google Cloud customers in public preview. Previously limited to Gemini Ultra subscribers and Google's Flow filmmaking platform, the tool represents a significant technical breakthrough in addressing one of AI's most challenging problems: creating realistic video with matching sound. What you should know: Veo 3 can generate videos with synchronized audio through natural language prompts, including ambient background noise and human voices. Users can create content by describing scenes in text, with the ability to fine-tune creative details "from the shade...
read Jun 25, 2025Motorica raises $5.4M to make game animation 200x faster with AI
Motorica has emerged from stealth with €5 million ($5.4 million) in seed funding to replace traditional motion capture with generative AI for character animation in video games. The Stockholm-based startup's technology promises to reduce animation costs by over 90% while accelerating workflows up to 200 times faster than conventional mocap pipelines, potentially transforming how studios approach one of game development's most expensive bottlenecks. The big picture: Motion capture represents a massive production challenge for AAA game studios, with animation alone accounting for 10-30% of total budgets and requiring millions of dollars for single projects like Red Dead Redemption 2, which...
read Jun 24, 2025Mood reading, translation and more: 5 AI capabilities Hollywood normalized but tech hasn’t mastered yet
Artificial intelligence in popular culture has long promised capabilities that remain tantalizingly out of reach. From the prescient HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey to the empathetic Samantha in Her, Hollywood has painted a picture of AI that seamlessly integrates into human life, anticipating needs and responding with almost supernatural intelligence. While today's AI systems can generate human-like text, recognize images, and even create art, they still fall short of the intuitive, context-aware assistants that populate our screens. The gap between cinematic AI and current technology reveals fascinating insights into both our aspirations for artificial intelligence and the complex...
read Jun 23, 2025Shanghai festival showcases world’s first fully AI-produced animated feature
The Shanghai International Film Festival has evolved from a regional showcase into a global laboratory where traditional filmmaking collides with cutting-edge technology. The 27th edition, which concluded recently, delivered clear signals that China's entertainment industry is accelerating its international expansion through strategic technological adoption and market consolidation. This transformation matters because Shanghai is positioning itself as the bridge between Eastern and Western entertainment markets while simultaneously pioneering AI applications that could fundamentally reshape how content gets produced worldwide. The festival's bold moves—from merging traditional film and TV markets to showcasing fully AI-produced features—offer insights into where the global entertainment industry...
read Jun 18, 2025Canva integrates Google’s Veo 3 AI video generator for $15/month
Canva has integrated Google's Veo 3 AI video generation technology into its design platform, allowing paid subscribers to create eight-second video clips with synchronized audio directly within their projects. The integration extends Canva's AI-powered creative suite and provides users with more affordable access to advanced video generation capabilities compared to Google's direct pricing. What you should know: Veo 3 video generation is now available across all Canva paid plans and the company's Leonardo.Ai platform. Users can generate eight-second video clips complete with synchronized audio that integrates seamlessly into existing Canva projects. The feature is part of Canva's broader AI toolkit,...
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