Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn More
Magic Story, an AI-powered media platform that lets children be the hero of their own magical adventure, has launched its customized books and subscription platform.
It is targeting children with its customized books, animated videos, read-aloud digital stories, and music. Founders Erik Ober and Alex Hawkins are bringing together a creative vision from their experience in the animated film industry and expertise in technology and psychology.
"Stories have the power to transform how children see themselves and the world," said Erik Ober, CEO of Magic Story, in a statement. "By enabling children to be heroes in their own stories, we provide parents with content that nurtures confidence and growth. Magic Story is more than entertainment; it's a tool to unlock each child's potential."
Magic Story offers 24 stories across six different categories, focusing on themes of learning and growth. These stories can be purchased as hardcover or softcover books, or viewed in the company's app, available on iOS and Android devices.
Magic Story Plus is the company's subscription service, which provides families with access to the mobile app, digital versions of their stories, one personalized digital story credit per month, access to Magic Story's library of music, free access to all Magic Story Classics, avatar creation that is as simple as uploading a photo, and discounted printing rates on hardcover and softcover books.
"Magic Story empowers families by bringing Hollywood-quality storytelling into their homes," said Alex Hawkins, chief creative officer, in a statement. "Our ethical use of AI enables personalized adventures that encourage 'mental rehearsal,' helping children visualize overcoming challenges and building positive self-belief."
Backed by Point72 Ventures and The House Fund, Magic Story has raised $4 million in seed funding to further its mission of using AI for good in children's media. As a meaningful alternative to traditional streaming services like Netflix and Youtube, Magic Story empowers parents to offer content that not only entertains but also nurtures learning, growth, and confidence in their children. Magic Story has eight people.
Customers can sign up for a 30-day free trial today and order hardcover or softcover books. Those who wish to receive books by Christmas should order by December 13.
The founders have experience at Sony Pictures with iconic films like Spider-Man and The Polar Express, alongside expertise in software engineering, creativity, and psychology.
In an email to GamesBeat, Ober said the inspiration for Magic Story came from his personal experience as a father to two daughters.
"My biggest fear is not preparing them for what the future holds. Every day, I'm reminded of the challenges posed by digital junk food and the toxicity of social media," Ober said. "My co-founder Alex and I share a passion for the intersection of creativity and technology. With our backgrounds in 3D animation and digital art, and the advent of AI, we became excited about the opportunity to bring Hollywood-level production to families worldwide, enabling them to tell their stories and inspire their children."
Regarding AI, Ober said that Magic Story leverages a multi-modal AI platform that integrates best-in-class open and closed-source AI models across language, speech, vision, image, and video.
"Our technology orchestrates various AI agents -- such as story writers, animators, and directors -- that work together to generate deeply personalized and professional-grade content. These AI agents simulate traditional storytelling and production roles, enhancing the content creation process in a way that is unmatched in the industry," he said.
He said the platform utilizes large language models (LLMs) among other AI technologies.
"To ensure safety and appropriateness for children, we've implemented a sandbox approach within the Magic Story universe, which significantly reduces any risk of harmful content upfront," Ober said. "On the backend, we have AI safety and quality control layers, supported by human safety and quality control teams. Trust and safety are core pillars of our brand, and we take them very seriously."
He added, "It's important to note that parents and caretakers are our primary customers, not the children themselves. Parents create the content for their children, empowering them to provide enriching and appropriate material. This approach ensures that the content is both safe and tailored to each child's needs, while giving parents control over the stories their children experience."
And he said, "Our AI continues to learn from user interactions, improving the experience over time while maintaining suitability and safety for young audiences."
Magic Story is available as hardcover and softcover books, as well as through our website. Mobile apps for iOS and Android are coming soon. The subscription is $15 per month, with a 30-day free trial.
