HarperCollins partners with Toonstar to turn books into AI-powered animated shows

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, also seems to have been erased from the internet. Its original domain now points to a crypto gambling site. We've asked the company for other ways to access the series. "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.

HarperCollins is forging ahead with AI-assisted dramas based on books. Some authors have concerns

HarperCollins Publishers and AI-powered animation studio Toonstar have announced a multi-year partnership to co-produce original YouTube series based on HarperCollins titles. It marks the second announcement this week from the book publishing giant regarding a partnership with an AI-centered company. On Monday, HarperCollins division Harlequin said it entered a multi-year agreement to co-produce 40 animated micro-dramas with AI entertainment company Dashverse. Inspired by Harlequin Romance titles, the collaboration launches in April, beginning with an adaptation of A Fairy-Tail Ending by Catherine Mann. The deals highlight how book publishers are turning to AI as a way to explore new modes of storytelling, but they are also generating backlash from those who are not thrilled about the effort.