Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Web Services (AWS) have unveiled the first projects from its newly launched GenAI Creators’ Fund, announcing three animated series that will be streamed on Prime Video.
The initiative, revealed May 27 during the AI on the Lot event at Culver Studios, is designed to provide filmmakers, digital creators and startups with access to generative AI production tools, funding and studio support. The first greenlit projects are Cupcake & Friends from BuzzFeed Studios, Love, Diana Music Hunters from pocket.watch executive Albie Hecht, and Punky Duck from filmmaker Jorge R. Gutierrez.
All three were developed using Project Nara, Amazon MGM Studios’ in-house AI production platform built on AWS infrastructure. According to the companies, the platform is intended to support animation and live-action workflows while integrating with existing software including Maya, Blender, Unreal Engine and Adobe Suite.
“Creative breakthroughs happen when visionary storytellers are given access to transformative tools,” said Albert Cheng, head of AI Studios, Amazon MGM Studios. “The GenAI Creators’ Fund and Project Nara position human creativity at the centre of our efforts to integrate generative AI into our production processes at Amazon MGM Studios. We’re proud of the work that these filmmakers have accomplished and look forward to sharing these creators’ visions with the world.”
“Amazon has quietly and methodically assembled the only end-to-end AI content creation ecosystem in the industry, spanning from infrastructure to creative tools to distribution and funding of creative content,” added Samira Bakhtiar, GM of media & entertainment, games, and sports, AWS. “Project Nara illustrates how AWS can help filmmakers bring AI to the full creative pipeline, from concept to screen, using a wide range of familiar models and tools on a cloud trusted by the entertainment industry.”
Among the newly announced projects:
Cupcake & Friends follows a cupcake and her friends navigating the challenges of a sleepover. The series is produced by BuzzFeed Studios.
Love, Diana Music Hunters is based on YouTube creator Diana and follows a K-pop-inspired band traveling through space to save alien music on Planet Goo. The project is created by Albie Hecht, chief content officer at pocket.watch.
Punky Duck (pictured), from Emmy-winning creator Jorge R. Gutierrez, centres on a punk duck and his companion Smiley Cat navigating an exaggerated version of Los Angeles filled with alien invasions, monsters and supernatural events.
The fund aims to support creators developing Gen AI production workflows through grants for proof-of-concept projects and shorts, while also giving technology startups access to studio and AWS expertise for testing tools against production environments.
Interested in AI-powered production? Read issue two of The Drop magazine for more.
Image courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios.
