Southeast Asian studios create AI-powered animated anthology about tech relationship

Singapore studios HIP Studios and FizzDragon have partnered with Philippine indie publisher 8Letters to co-produce “AI: Love & Hate,” a 90-minute animated anthology feature exploring humanity’s relationship with artificial intelligence. The collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind partnership in Southeast Asia that combines traditional animation with generative AI technology to adapt stories from independent Asian authors, positioning the region as an emerging hub for AI-driven content creation.

What you should know: The sci-fi anthology will comprise six 15-minute stories adapted from novels by independent authors, examining conflicted emotions surrounding technological advancement.

• The feature will be released in both English and Mandarin-language versions, utilizing a hybrid approach that combines traditional animation with cutting-edge generative AI.
• Drawing comparisons to acclaimed anthologies “Black Mirror” and “Love, Death & Robots,” the project aims to spotlight stories from independent Asian authors rather than Western perspectives.
• The film marks the first installment in a planned franchise that will expand across multiple platforms including graphic novels, games and other derivatives.

The big picture: This collaboration extends beyond immediate production, with plans to establish an AI Academy in the Philippines to train artists and filmmakers in generative AI applications.

• The educational initiative aims to position the Philippines as a regional hub for AI-driven content creation, democratizing access to Hollywood-level production capabilities.
• The project showcases six emerging directors alongside the featured authors, creating opportunities for creative collaboration across disciplines.

Why this matters: The partnership demonstrates how generative AI is lowering barriers to ambitious storytelling, enabling smaller studios to create cinematic content previously requiring massive budgets.

• “Generative AI is a tool that empowers creatives to achieve more than ever before,” said Stanley Ng, principal consultant at FizzDragon. “It allows us to bring to life ambitious stories that, until recently, could only be realized with Hollywood-sized budgets.”

What they’re saying: Industry leaders emphasize the meta-narrative of using AI technology to explore AI’s impact on humanity.

• “It is both novel and exciting that we are using a hybrid of traditional animation and generative AI to craft a film about the very impact of AI itself,” said Chan Gin Kai, co-founder and president of creative development at HIP Studios.
• “At 8Letters, our mission has always been to help writers grow and evolve — and this project gives them the chance to move from the page to the screen,” said Cindy Wong, founder and creative director of 8Letters.

Who else is involved: The collaboration brings together established players in Southeast Asian content creation and AI development.

• Singapore-based HIP Studios specializes in IP development and management across Asia and Australia.
• FizzDragon has been recognized by NVIDIA’s Global Startup Program and Alibaba’s Jumpstarter Top 30, having previously released the AI-generated epic “Zheng Yi Sao” theatrically.
• Philippine indie publisher 8Letters boasts a catalog of over 900 titles and serves as the country’s largest independent publisher.