French Startup Animaj Uses AI to Disrupt the Animated Film Industry

Summary:

Animaj, a French startup, uses AI to accelerate and increase the production of animated content for kids.
Animaj is aiming to disrupt the traditional animation industry by addressing the expensive and time-consuming nature of the animation phase.
The startup uses AI models to transform text and storyboards into animated sequences, enabling animators to create much more content.
Animaj has achieved significant growth, registering 15 billion views per year and 150 million followers on YouTube.
The company focuses on digital platforms, particularly YouTube, to control distribution and negotiate favorable terms with traditional platforms.
Animaj faces resistance to AI in the industry, but believes it is inevitable and that the industry must adapt.

Animaj: An AI Revolution in Animation

Animaj, a French startup founded in 2022, is aiming to revolutionize the animated film industry by leveraging AI to accelerate and increase the production of children's content. The company sees this as a new technological wave, similar to the introduction of Technicolor and 3D animation.

The Problem: Traditional animation is extremely expensive and time-consuming, with an animated film like Toy Story 3 costing around $2 million per minute to produce. This is primarily due to the laborious nature of the animation phase, where animators painstakingly render each frame.

Animaj's Solution: Animaj uses AI models to automate this process, transforming text and storyboards into animated sequences. This allows animators to create significantly more content, aiming for 500 seconds per day within the next three years. The company also focuses on acquiring existing IPs and building creative teams to generate new content ideas.

Growth and Success: Animaj has achieved impressive growth, registering 15 billion views per year and 150 million followers on YouTube across its three brands (HeyKids, Kidibli, and Pocoyo). The company raised €100 million in funding last year and saw a 470% year-on-year revenue growth, reaching over €10 million in revenue.

Focusing on Digital Platforms: Animaj is strategically focusing its content on YouTube, recognizing its dominance in children's entertainment. This strategy allows them to control their distribution and negotiate favorable terms with traditional platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Facing Resistance: Despite its successes, Animaj's use of AI is met with some resistance, particularly from Hollywood actors and screenwriters who are concerned about the potential impact on their livelihoods. However, Animaj's founder, Sixte de Vauplane, believes that AI is inevitable and that the industry must adapt to this new technology.

Ambitious Goals: Animaj's ultimate goal is to build a global franchise that rivals the likes of Pixar and Disney, creating a “flywheel effect” across multiple business units like merchandise, music, and theme parks. De Vauplane is confident in their ability to achieve this ambitious vision, recognizing the significant potential for growth in the children's entertainment market.

Source: Sifted