International
Paramount set to open animation division
MUMBAI: In a landmark decision, Paramount Pictures has decided to launch an in-house animation division and has slated its first title release in 2014.
Detailing the development, Paramount Chairman and CEO Brad Grey said that the initiative was part of the studio‘s long-term strategy for growth and the new division Paramount Animation would focus on high quality animation with budgets of up to $100 million per picture. The division, part of the Paramount Motion Picture Group, will report to the group‘s president Adam Goodman and will initially target one release per year.
“We‘ve come a long way over the last six years. Our team has worked hard to build best in class production, marketing and distribution divisions which have proven they consistently execute at the highest level across all genres and price points. Establishing an in-house animation division was the logical next step for us,” said Grey.
Paramount Animation‘s mandate will be the development of the broadest range of family CGI animated films, with a key piece being titles under the label of Viacom‘s Nickelodeon, the number one entertainment brand for kids worldwide. The Studio will also look to build on Viacom‘s already thriving global consumer products business by seeking to capitalise on merchandising opportunities tied to all Paramount Animation releases.
While Paramount has released an array of animated films in its history, the company‘s first fully owned CGI animated property was Rango that released in March last year.
International
Utopai Studios unveils 4K three-minute video generation for PAI platform
New Story Agent and editing tools aim to streamline AI-led filmmaking workflows
MUMBAI: Utopai Studios has announced a major upgrade to its PAI storytelling AI platform, introducing what it claims is an industry-first capability to generate three-minute videos in 4K resolution, alongside enhancements to its Story Agent feature.
The update, rolling out from April 15, expands the platform’s capabilities across the filmmaking process, from early concept development to post-production. The company said the new features are designed to help filmmakers maintain continuity across characters, scenes and visual styles, a key challenge in AI-driven storytelling.
At the heart of the release is a next-generation model that enables more structured narrative development, allowing creators to move more seamlessly from idea to execution. With tools such as multi-shot sequencing and multi-turn editing, the platform aims to give both studios and independent creators greater control over complex storytelling workflows.
Commenting on the launch, Utopai Studios co-founder and CTO Jie Yang said, “The next phase of AI in media will not be defined by isolated tools, but by systems that can carry story, continuity and collaboration across the full creative process.” He added that the update is a step towards enabling more practical, end-to-end narrative development at a professional level.
Echoing this, Utopai Studios co-founder and chief scientific officer Zijian He said, “Generative video is opening the door to a new production model, where creative ambition is less constrained by traditional cost and complexity.” He noted that the platform combines multimodal models with iterative editing to give creators more speed, control and consistency.
The company said PAI is already being used in professional film and television productions, particularly in Hollywood, for tasks such as pre-visualisation, scene design and post-production refinements. The latest update adds features including improved voice options, character consistency, unlimited editing and more flexible asset management.
Utopai also emphasised that its models are not trained on copyrighted material, positioning the platform as a cleaner alternative for creators and rights holders navigating the evolving AI landscape.
As AI continues to reshape content creation, Utopai’s latest push signals a shift from standalone tools to integrated systems, aiming to make high-quality filmmaking faster, more flexible and increasingly accessible.
