Toonstar, an animation studio situated in Los Angeles that’s been integrating AI into its workflow, has decided to team up with talent agency WME, indicating their aspirations to broaden the variety of technologically enhanced shows they offer.
In the collaboration, the studio responsible for YouTube’s “StEvEn & Parker” and Snapchat’s “Storytoons” is going to team up with WME to create several new animated series led by creators and also to distribute these shows on various platforms while finding methods to monetize their intellectual property.
John Attanasio, CEO and co-founder, commented in a recent interview that this partnership allows us access to exceptional creative minds. From a business perspective, working with WME as we roll out our projects opens up numerous possibilities. These could range from extending a series for streaming platforms, exploring longer formats, or discovering new methods to monetize the intellectual property, such as merchandise, publishing, brand partnerships, or sponsorships.
As an ardent admirer, I’m thrilled to share that the initial venture from Toonstar and WME is none other than an animated show, jointly created with the brilliant Malaysian comedian and YouTube sensation, Nigel Ng. This project will see the expansion of his viral character, “Uncle Roger,” who is a middle-aged Asian man offering hilarious insights into recipes. I can’t wait to see Nigel co-create and voice this new series, as it promises to enrich the already vibrant world of “Uncle Roger.
For a long time, I’ve envisioned enhancing the storytelling of Uncle Roger through animation,” expressed Ng. He is renowned for his YouTube channel with over 10 million subscribers and owns restaurants across Southeast Asia. In a statement, he further explained that Toonstar will aid him, who lacks drawing skills, in animate Uncle Roger and present him in a fresh, dynamic manner.
Based in downtown L.A., Toonstar, a team of approximately 20 individuals, emphasizes the ethical application of AI. They design a customized AI engine for every production they create, which is trained on artwork specifically produced for that project. This engine then generates an initial draft of art, allowing designers to build upon it, as explained by Luisa Huang, the COO and co-founder.
The technology can also be employed for breaking down scripts, matching animated lips with dialogue, generating voiceovers, and examining viewer statistics. To clarify, we engineered this tech-aided process primarily to facilitate content creation. It’s crucial to maintain copyright and trademark compliance at its core, as stated by Huang.
Numerous workers in the animation industry view AI with a significant level of apprehension, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s predicted that AI will fundamentally alter the animation production process, possibly affecting over 200,000 jobs by 2027, according to a 2024 survey of entertainment executives. This development comes at a time when more of the animation work is being moved overseas to countries like Canada and Australia.
Through the WME partnership, Attanasio and Huang believe they will be capable of expanding a method that will revitalize local production, thus offering more prospects for creative individuals. In essence, this is aimed at providing diminishing opportunities for creators in today’s Hollywood. As Attanasio puts it, the tech-enhanced studio aims to break down barriers for those who might not otherwise receive approval for an animated project. The focus should be on creating more content rather than less.
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2025-06-11 15:25