Where the Robots Grow, the world’s first, original AI-powered featured film, marks a significant milestone in filmmaking.

Produced by Tom Paton’s AiMation Studios, the 87-minute movie was developed with a modest budget of $8,000 per minute, far lower than typical animation costs.

Set in a distant future, the film follows a robot named Cru who discovers a human baby on a new planet, Oracle, and embarks on a journey under the guidance of an AI operating system named POP.

AiMation Studios released the film for free on YouTube as part of a broader business strategy aimed at showcasing AI’s potential in animation and filmmaking.

The entire film can be viewed for free here.

Key Points

• Innovative Milestone: The film is the first feature-length animation made entirely with AI tools, signaling a shift in how movies can be produced.
• Low Production Cost: With just $8,000 per minute, the film is far cheaper to produce compared to standard animation.
• Small Team: Paton assembled a small team of nine core members, proving AI’s capability to reduce workforce demands.
• Plot Overview: The film’s story is set in a future where robots prepare a new planet for humanity, focusing on Cru, a robot who discovers a human baby.
• AI-Driven Characters: AI tools like Adobe Firefly and Stable Diffusion were used to animate the film, though human character animation remains a challenge.
• Business Strategy: AiMation Studios distributed the film for free on YouTube, aiming to attract attention from industry investors and showcase their production capabilities.

Key Quotes

• “This isn’t just about making a movie — it’s about opening up new opportunities. With AI, we’re able to break down barriers that have kept so many creators on the sidelines. The arts were a way for the working class to escape where they come from. But that changed, and the system became a closed circle. AI in the hands of creatives from all walks of life around the globe will reverse that change.” – Tom Paton, Producer and Director.
• “I think it’s important to be first. I think that carries weight to some degree.” – Paton.
• “This is our Toy Story moment. It’s not hypothetical—it’s happening now.” – Paton.

Where the Robots Grow demonstrates that AI can significantly lower production costs and democratize the film industry, offering opportunities for smaller teams and independent creators.

While AI excels at animating robotic characters, the technology still struggles with realistic human depictions.

The film’s free release strategy not only showcases AI’s potential in cinema but also positions AiMation Studios as a pioneer in AI-driven animation. This project could encourage more filmmakers and studios to explore AI for future productions.

Just like Pixar’s Toy Story showed the world what CGI could do for storytelling, Where the Robots Grow might one day be remembered as the big breakthrough for AI animation.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/charliefink/2024/10/17/where-the-robots-grow-is-ais-first-feature/

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