Chinese AI video generator Vidu signed an IP deal for the 1999 anime series Journey to the West: The Legend of the Monkey King It makes the show's aesthetics and images available to you with the new tools currently being rolled out.
Under the new features introduced to Vidu over the next few months, users can upload a photo of themselves and reinterpret the original 26-part series produced by China Central Television and Cinar Corporation.
The announcement follows backlash against Openai after the updated video generation model SORA features allowed users to translate into a clear animation style in Studio Ghibli in Japan and spur rage from the company's chief artist and founder Miyazaki Hayo.
Vidu has announced its IP transaction at the Tokyo Global Talents Meetup, which will be held at the same time as the Annecy International Film Festival in France. This year's use of AI and existing content is a hot button topic for the animation community.
The company said the IP initiative marks a different approach and suggests it is a milestone in the evolution of generation AI that sets a blueprint for the next generation original content studio.
“Sora made the most of Studio Ghibli for its content showcase, but Vidu has pioneered long-term IP value by co-creating, securing rights and embracing cultural heritage,” the company said in its release.
Under the new tool, Vidu will analyze users' photos and apply the clear aesthetics of 1999 Journey to the West Animated art style to their portraits.
“Users can choose from a curated list of attractive, pre-defined plotline templates or scenarios that bring 16 seconds of personalized video segments,” Vidu explained in the release.
“In one template, for example, Sun Wukong (The Monkey King) reminds many little monkeys to help with chores. But he interacts humorously with your digital portrait, covering the clips with the generated narration and background music of beliefs.”
Luo Yihang, CEO of Beijing-based Shengshu Technology, said the initiative marked a positive step in the relationship between AI and IP.
“We are very excited about this partnership, as well as what we represent in the future of IP,” he said.
“For the first time, generative AI is not just driving creativity behind the scenes, but it is becoming a vehicle for rethinking ownership, world building and beloved stories. Now, Vidu is proving that a generator video platform can do more than generate content.
