Animaj Raises $85 Million to Transform Children’s Animation with AI

Animaj, based in Paris and London, raised $85 million in a funding round led by HarbourView Equity Partners and Bpifrance. The company, known for its unique model blending AI tools and content creation, aims to grow children’s intellectual property like Pocoyo into global franchises. With a strong digital presence, Animaj is looking to innovate in the animation industry.

Animaj, an emerging player in the animation field, has just announced a hefty $85 million in new funding. This Paris and London-based startup aims to reshape how animated content is created and consumed, illustrating just how wide AI’s reach extends in this sector. Previously highlighted by Cartoon Brew in March, Animaj stands out not merely as an animation toolmaker, but as a content powerhouse on a mission to acquire key children’s intellectual property (IP).

Led by HarbourView Equity Partners and Bpifrance Large Venture, this funding round drew additional backers including JP Morgan and Left Lane Capital. The significant sum is especially noteworthy given that Animaj had already amassed over $100 million before this latest round. This further sets it apart from similar AI animation ventures in the U.S. like Cartwheel and Cheehoo, which have collectively gathered around $10 million or less.

What truly differentiates Animaj is its approach. The company isn’t just dabbling in AI tools; it’s a content creator in its own right. For instance, it recently acquired the beloved Spanish preschool series Pocoyo—which they’ve successfully brought back to life on YouTube. Since its inception in May 2022, co-founders Sixte de Vauplane and Grégory Dray have propelled Animaj into being the fifth largest digital kids’ entity on YouTube, racking up an impressive 22 billion views annually, reaching 240 million unique young viewers each month. Pocoyo itself is now featured on over 100 platforms, such as Netflix and Disney+.

With these new funds, Animaj is looking to expand and transform various children’s IPs into multi-format franchises, leveraging a blend of AI-powered production and tailored content development for different platforms. As Vauplane put it, “We’re building something that’s never existed before,” remarking on their innovative media company structure—driven by data, powered by AI, and designed for multiplicity across platforms popular with youth like YouTube and Spotify.

The company has devised a proprietary GenAI animation pipeline that drastically trims down production times and costs, yet maintains high creative standards. Notably, their animations don’t mimic the more generic styles often attributed to AI. Their system integrates AI-driven sketch-to-pose capabilities with a layer of motion interactivity. This helps ensure that while each character remains expressive, they also retain their unique characteristics. They employ advanced Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) tech to enhance the 3D animation process, making it easier for animators to refine and perfect the output using software like Maya.

After its successful relaunch of Pocoyo, Animaj is poised to dive into even greater aspirations. Dray highlights the vast, untapped potential of independent kids’ IPs, noting, “There’s an extraordinary pool of kids’ IP developed by independent studios and creators that hasn’t reached its full potential.” With their modern strategies, they aim to elevate these brands on a global scale without losing the charm and creativity that make them special.

The fresh investment of $85 million in Animaj not only emphasizes the startup’s groundbreaking approach to animation but also marks its commitment to transforming children’s intellectual properties into thriving global franchises. With innovative technology and a keen focus on unique content, Animaj is positioned for significant growth in a competitive landscape.

Original Source: www.cartoonbrew.com