AI animation studio Toonstar will turn books into digital shows for HarperCollins
HarperCollins is tapping into AI to bring some of its book franchises to life. Specifically, the publisher is teaming up with Toonstar , an AI animation studio, to turn them into digital shows. The first project will be an adaptation of Lisa Greenwald’s “Friendship List” series, which will also be joined by a graphic novel. You’d be forgiven for being unaware of Toonstar, a studio that received some buzzy early on for simplifying typically complex animation pipelines with AI, but has mostly remained under the radar. Its biggest claim to fame is producing StEvEn and Parker YouTube series, which has amassed 3.38 million subscribers and sometimes has episodes reaching around a million views. It’s not something I’ve heard animation fans speaking about, though. And honestly, it was tough to sit through a few minutes of its sub- South Park animation. “By leaning into the [AI] technology, we can make full episodes 80 percent faster and 90 percent cheaper than industry norms,” Toonstar co-founder John Attanasio, told The New York Times last year . In that same interview, the company revealed that it uses AI across its production, including having it dub dialog for international audiences, as well as working on storylines. Toonstar initially pitched itself as an animation studio leaning into Web3 and NFTs, but those technologies seem virtually absent from the company’s presence today. Space Junk , one of its early series , was “put on hold for a variety of reasons,” a representative told Engadget. “It’s possible we’ll resurrect the concept in the future,” they added. Its original domain now points to a crypto gambling site . “We’re honored to bring Friendship List to life as an animated series,” Attanasio said in a press release. “Our artist-centered approach ensures these beloved characters and stories stay true to the author’s vision, while our Ink & Pixel production technology enables fast, high-quality production at scale which unlocks the ability to meet audiences where and when they enjoy content today.” Toonstar has certainly proved it can make “content” for YouTube. Can it actually produce an enjoyable animat edshow? That’s another question entirely. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-animation-studio-toonstar-will-turn-books-into-digital-shows-for-harpercollins-211419155.html?src=rss
HarperCollins, a global publishing powerhouse, is diving into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) to bring some of its beloved book franchises to life in the form of digital shows. The publisher has partnered with Toonstar, an AI animation studio, to transform these literary works into animated series. The first project in this ambitious endeavor will be an adaptation of Lisa Greenwald’s "Friendship List" series, which will also be accompanied by a graphic novel.
Toonstar, a studio that has remained relatively under the radar, has made a name for itself by simplifying complex animation pipelines using AI. Its most notable achievement so far is the production of the StEvEn and Parker YouTube series, which boasts 3.38 million subscribers and episodes that sometimes reach around a million views. However, this studio is not a topic of conversation among animation enthusiasts, and watching a few minutes of its work can be challenging, as it leans heavily on a style reminiscent of South Park.
In a conversation with The New York Times last year, Toonstar co-founder John Attanasio explained that the studio's reliance on AI allows it to produce full episodes 80 percent faster and 90 percent cheaper than the industry norms. The company employs AI across its production process, including dubbing dialog for international audiences and even working on storylines.
Initially, Toonstar positioned itself as an animation studio that would lean heavily into Web3 and NFTs. However, these technologies seem virtually absent from the company’s current presence. One of its early series, Space Junk, was put on hold for a variety of reasons, as a representative told Engadget. The representative added that it's possible the concept might be resurrected in the future. Interestingly, Toonstar's original domain now points to a crypto gambling site.
Despite these challenges, the studio remains optimistic about its collaboration with HarperCollins. Attanasio expressed his honor in bringing "Friendship List" to life as an animated series. He emphasized that the studio's artist-centered approach ensures that the beloved characters and stories stay true to the author's vision. Furthermore, Toonstar's Ink & Pixel production technology enables fast, high-quality production at scale, which unlocks the ability to meet audiences where and when they enjoy content today.
The question remains: Can Toonstar produce an enjoyable animated show, or will it struggle to deliver beyond its YouTube content? Only time will tell if this ambitious partnership between HarperCollins and Toonstar will result in a successful digital show, or if the AI-driven animation will fall flat with audiences.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-animation-studio-toonstar-will-turn-books-into-digital-shows-for-harpercollins-211419155.html?src=rss.
