The Los Angeles-based Cheehoo launch has raised $ 10 million to build what it describes as a “creative engine” for animation and interactive narrative, placing advanced flows of AI-strengthened artists, artists, animators and owners. The company was incubated in the Rideback of the production company (“The Lego Movie”, “Avatar: The Last Airbender”). The round was driven by Point72 Ventures with the participation of Graycroft, the base, the head of Asia and others.
From left to right: founders of Cheehoo Dr. Hubert Tsai, Chris Defaria, Jonathan Eirich, Dr. Wei-Cheng Kuo, … more
Cheehoo’s founding team combines the experience of Hollywood and Silicon Valley, including former President Dreamworks Animation Chris Defaria, AI scientists from Apple and Stanford and co-operation Michael Lofaso and Jonathan Eirich. The founder of Rideback Dan Lin is also a co -founder. The company’s early focus is in professional studios, IP holders and to choose artists involved in a closed pilot program.
Cheehoo creates a articulated platform designed to reduce the time, friction and costs associated with the production of cartoon content. Lofaso, who remains co-director of driving, helping to drive Cheehoo, described it as a flexible and agile cartoon conductor that maintains compatibility with industry tools such as Maya and Unreal Engine, while incorporating AI to accelerate bogs.
“Our only focus is to empower artists,” Lofaso told me in an interview. “We try to give them better tools – to eliminate the friction points that slow down the repetition and prevent them from spending more time on the creative aspects of their work.”
Instead of scratching the internet for training data-a controversial tactic between some AI-Cheehoo companies creates its own privately owned 3D assets at home and allows customers to maintain whatever they contribute. The system is transmitted to models and cartoons, making it easier to search, replace and create assets in all projects. Over time, as studios and creators produce more with the platform, they create a growing “data ball” that supplies further automation.
The Cheehoo system can train mini models in specific characters or projects using relatively small sets of data compared to the massive particles usually required to train pixel -based video generators. Focusing on 3D-based work flows, instead of pure video composition, the platform offers greater control and loyalty-a critical requirement for a professional moving image.
The company is initially aimed at businesses, but has a long -term vision of opening the platform to smaller studio, accessible and ultimately user -generated content creators. In Lofaso’s view, the greatest immediate opportunity does not replace traditional studios, but helping creators respond to ever -increasing demand for frequent, serialized content on platforms such as YouTube, Tiktok and continuous flow services.
“Studios spend years and tens of millions to produce an important moving trait,” Lofaso said. “But building a franchise today is increasingly requires consistent, high quality production-except for the big Tentpole events.”
Cheehoo plans to announce the first creative partners and the Slate project later this year.
