Fremantle’s Imaginae Studios unveils first AI project

Art Awakens is short-form series that uses generative AI to reveal the inner worlds of famous paintings, such as Edvard Munch’s The Scream, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, and Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night.

Fremantle launched Imaginae last year as a standalone production unit to push storytelling boundaries with the use of AI.

Each episode of Art Awakens opens on an original artwork before animating its world – flickering candlelight, shifting fabric, implied breath. According to Imaginae, this enables the series to “explore the emotional and narrative worlds behind each masterpiece, giving voice and movement to works that have captivated audiences for generations.”

The series was created in collaboration with Hilario Abad, a Spanish AI filmmaker.

Fremantle said the series is an early example of the type of AI-native intellectual property Imaginae Studios is developing, designed for global audiences and with potential for future partnerships across broadcasters, publishers, and online platforms.

The studio also said that details on the series rollout and distribution will be announced in the coming months.

James Duffen, CEO of Imaginae Studios, said: “Art Awakens is exactly why Imaginae exists. Generative AI is a new creative language and when applied with taste, craft, and cultural sensitivity, it allows us to tell stories that were previously impossible. This series isn't about improving great art; it's about revealing what was always there. We're inviting audiences who might never set foot in a gallery to experience these masterpieces in a way that feels intimate and emotional.”

Fremantle recently appointed Kevin Lingley as Executive Vice President (EVP) of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Discover more here.