Amazon is continuing to integrate generative AI technology into its business, and next, Prime Video subscribers will get to experience it on the entertainment side with three new TV series. During its AI on the Lot event on Wednesday, the company announced the launch of its new Gen AI Creators' Fund, under Amazon MGM Studios and Amazon Web Services.
Three projects are coming to the streaming service at a future date, all produced with the help of Project Nara, one of Amazon's AI tools: Love, Diana Music Hunters, Cupcake & Friends (from BuzzFeed Studios) and Punky Dunk. The new creators' fund is aimed at financing startup projects for filmmakers and digital creatives using AI production tech. With Project Nara, they'll be able to access Adobe Suite, Maya, Kling and other tools to bring their stories to life, some of which will hit screens as a new TV show or movie.
CNET's Aaron Pruner is attending the Amazon event and had the chance to view short clips of each show, and says Love, Diana Music Hunters "feels very focused on toddlers and preschool age audiences." Adding that the show turns live-action K-Pop-loving characters into animated versions of themselves, he described it as "a weird blend of familiar-looking, big-eyed animation and AI weirdness."
Punky Dunk, which follows a punk-rock duck and his cat bestie through an LA filled with monsters, aliens and family drama, uses stop-motion-style animation. Cupcake & Friends has a sleepover theme with claymation-style visuals, and Pruner says it has an Adult Swim vibe to it (complete with a Ouija board and references to Bloody Mary).
A first look at characters in Cupcake & Friends and Punky Dunk.
Amazon MGM StudiosPrime Video isn't the only company moving ahead with generative AI in content. Netflix tapped the tech to deage characters in a scene in Happy Gilmore 2, while Disney has been looking toward AI for some of its animation processes. What seems certain, however, is that viewers will see more big entertainment brands using it during content production.