Utopai Studios and DeNA Co., Ltd. have unveiled an AI-assisted animation partnership in Japan.
The Entertainment Development Business Unit of DeNA will begin weaving Utopai’s storytelling AI system, PAI, into its experimental animation workflows.
“Japan is one of the world’s most important and influential animation markets, and DeNA brings a deep understanding of both its creators and audiences,” said Cecilia Shen, CEO and co-founder of Utopai Studios. “By integrating PAI into an animation-production workflow in Japan, we are building a model that combines new production capabilities with the artistry, judgment and authorship that define great animation. This collaboration is an important step for Utopai Studios in Japan and the foundation for a relationship we believe can grow significantly over time.”
Under the Japan arrangement, a team of Utopai AI production specialists will sit alongside DeNA’s creative and production staff, contributing to early visual concepts, character and environment design, how scenes are planned and the iterative production process. DeNA’s artists keep authority over story, visual style, performances and tone, with final sign-off on every creative decision.
DeNA, founded in Tokyo in 1999 and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, spans mobile games, live-streaming and sports alongside its entertainment business. Utopai Studios, which pairs original IP development with its AI production infrastructure, also operates units in the Asia-Pacific region and in Germany.
