Amazon backs Fable startup that creates animated series using AI

Startup Fable has introduced a Showrunner platform that generates animated series using its own artificial intelligence model. The project has already received support from Amazon and other investors, Variety reports.

The showrunner works on the company's SHOW-2 model. Last year, Fable used it to create nine unofficial South Park episodes that garnered more than 80 million views. The company says the new version of the AI is better at understanding context, has improved character "personality," and can generate consistent stories across multiple episodes.

Users can choose a series, create new episodes or edit existing ones, add their own characters, write lines, or provide a script in the form of a simple description. Showrunner automatically selects voices, animation, editing, and music.

Experimental shows are already available on the platform, including:

• Exit Valley is a satirical series about the startup industry;
• Ikiru Shinu is an anime about an android who is searching for the meaning of life;
• Digital Renegades is a Netflix-style series about digital warfare;
• Shadows over NYC is a pseudo-documentary thriller about artificial intelligence in New York.

Showrunner will be free to start with, but will later introduce a paid subscription ($10–20/month) for creators. Viewing will remain free. According to Fable founder Edward Saferen, the company plans to share revenue with creators of shows if they become popular.

The platform is also testing the AI TV feature, a channel for continuously showing shows generated in real time. Another experimental mode is self-integration, where the viewer can become the hero of the animated series. This feature is currently available to a limited number of users.