Banijay Kids & Family has sealed a research and development collaboration with the animation software company Toon Boom Animation to drive the deployment of AI in animation production.
The companies will collaborate on tools to enhance Toon Boom’s Harmony and Storyboard Pro software. As part of the agreement, Banijay Kids & Family secures early access to new AI beta functionalities from Toon Boom. Those tools will be “rigorously” tested by Banijay Kids & Family in real studio conditions. Underpinning the agreement are ethical and operational guardrails to protect creators and IP. Toon Boom is not using Banijay Kids & Family content to train its AI models.
“Rather than waiting for off-the-shelf AI tools, we want to be at the forefront of evolving our own solutions,” said Benoît Di Sabatino, CEO of Banijay Kids & Family. “The ambition is to enhance rather than disrupt the creative and address the growing demand for faster and more efficient pipelines. Choosing Toon Boom as our partner was key, as its software solutions have long been developed with deep respect for the artists, technicians, and creative workflows that define our sector. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to empowering creatives, accelerating innovation, and setting new standards for responsible AI adoption across the global animation industry.”
Colin Bohm, CEO of Toon Boom Animation, added, “At Toon Boom, we’ve always built our tools in close dialogue with the artists and studios who use them. This partnership with Banijay Kids & Family deepens that commitment, giving us direct, real-world feedback loops to shape the next generation of Ember AI features in Harmony and Storyboard Pro. Together, we’re demonstrating that responsible AI adoption and creative ambition can go hand in hand.”
