Fremantle’s Imaginae Studios has revealed its first project – Art Awakens, a short-form series that uses generative AI to reveal the inner worlds of iconic paintings.
Developed by Imaginae Studios – the AI-native IP studio backed by Fremantle – Art Awakens uses animation to reimagine masterpieces spanning five centuries, from Jan van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Portrait to Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks.
The series was created in collaboration with Hilario Abad, a Spanish AI filmmaker.
Art Awakens featured artworks include:
The Scream – Edvard Munch (1893)
Nighthawks – Edward Hopper (1942)
The Great Wave – Hokusai (1831)
The Starry Night – Vincent van Gogh (1889)
The Arnolfini Portrait – Jan van Eyck (1434)
Whistler’s Mother – James McNeill Whistler (1871)
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.”
Andrea Scrosati, Fremantle Group COO & CEO Continental Europe, said: “Art Awakens marks an important first project for the studio. From the outset, our ambition has been to give new creative talent the space to experiment and the freedom to realise bold ideas using incredible AI tools. I believe this series is a perfect demonstration of that in action. It shows how generative AI, guided by creative instinct and craft, can unlock new forms of storytelling and create meaningful, culturally resonant content for global audiences. Congratulations to James Duffen, the Imaginae team and the talent who have created these films.”
The project kicks off Imaginae Studios’ ambition to build an IP catalogue and use generative AI to find new forms of storytelling through AI-native production.
Art Awakens also serves as an early example of the type of ambitious, AI-native intellectual property Imaginae Studios is developing – projects designed for global audiences and with potential for future partnerships across broadcasters, publishers, and online platforms.
Pippa Considine
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