Key Takeaways
- New startup Cheehoo is developing AI-powered tools to streamline animation creation.
- The company was founded by experienced Hollywood producers and former Apple AI experts.
- Cheehoo aims to make animation faster and less expensive for creators.
- It integrates with industry software and supports various AI models for flexibility.
- Cheehoo has secured $10 million in funding led by Greycroft.
Creating animation is often a complex and lengthy process. A new startup named Cheehoo, launched by a blend of Hollywood insiders and tech specialists, wants to change that with AI.
The company aims to simplify how animated content is produced, making it quicker for creators to experiment and finalize scenes.
Cheehoo emerged from Rideback, the production company behind hits like the Lego Movie franchise. Its founding team includes Rideback leaders Dan Lin, Michael LoFaso, and Jonathan Eirich, alongside former DreamWorks Animation president Chris deFaria and ex-Apple AI researchers Yao-Hung Hubert Tsai and Wei-Cheng Kuo.
LoFaso explained to TechCrunch that animation production difficulties inspired the startup. “We wanted to create a tool that was native to the workflows of creators and make their lives easier,” he said.
Cheehoo’s tools are designed to help creators prototype and iterate quickly. They manage tasks like data handling and file conversions, smoothing the workflow between different animation stages.
The platform integrates with popular software such as Maya and Unreal, allowing immediate feedback on changes. Creators can choose whether to use Cheehoo’s own AI models or integrate others from companies like OpenAI and Runway for various tasks.
While specific partners haven’t been named, Cheehoo is already collaborating with studios, creators, and IP holders.
To fuel its growth, Cheehoo raised $10 million in a funding round led by Greycroft, with several other venture firms participating.
Greycroft principal Brentt Baltimore noted the firm focuses on “new age” media investments. He believes Cheehoo’s unique mix of talent can significantly improve animation pipelines and potentially lower production costs overall.
Baltimore mentioned that Cheehoo’s tools could empower independent filmmakers by providing access to high-level workflows, all while giving users creative control.
Looking ahead, Cheehoo plans to expand beyond its current focus on professional users by developing products for consumers as well.
