South Korea’s CJ ENM Takes Bold Step into AI Content Creation with First AI-Powered Animation Series
CJ ENM Embraces the Future with AI
Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM is stepping into the future of digital storytelling with the launch of its first fully AI-generated animation, Cat Biggie. The new show was officially unveiled at the “2025 CJ ENM Culture Talk” held in Seoul, where the company also introduced its broader artificial intelligence (AI) content strategy. Celebrating 30 years in the entertainment business, CJ ENM is now setting its sights on becoming a global leader in AI-driven media production.
Transforming K-Content with Artificial Intelligence
The event, titled “K-Content Meets AI: How AI Technology is Transforming the Future of the K-Content Industry”, highlighted CJ ENM’s ambitious plans to use AI throughout the entire content production process. From early-stage planning to final distribution and marketing, AI is now at the heart of the company’s strategy.
Shin Keun-sup, Chief Strategy Officer at CJ ENM, emphasized the significance of this move.
“We are applying AI across the entire content value chain — including planning, production, distribution, and marketing — to expand AI content production across genres and formats,” he said.
This approach is expected to not only improve efficiency but also help the company secure unique and valuable intellectual properties (IP) for the future.
Introducing Cat Biggie: A Fully AI-Made Animation
The highlight of the event was the premiere of Cat Biggie, a non-verbal, short-form animation that marks CJ ENM’s first 100% in-house AI-generated series. The story follows a cat who unexpectedly finds himself caring for a baby chick, combining humor and emotion in a family-friendly format.
Each episode is just two minutes long, with 30 episodes completed in only five months. Remarkably, a team of just six experts handled the entire process — from planning to character development — using CJ ENM’s proprietary AI tools.
Cinematic AI: Solving Challenges in AI Animation
One of the biggest hurdles in creating animated content through AI is maintaining quality and consistency. To solve this, CJ ENM developed Cinematic AI, a tool specifically designed for narrative content such as dramas and films.
This system integrates visuals, sound, voice, and even 3D character rendering into a single platform. For Cat Biggie, Cinematic AI was used to convert characters into 3D models and ensure smooth and expressive animation.
Baek Hyun-jung, Head of AI Business and Production, led the project and explained:
“The key challenge was controlling and expressing the dynamic movements unique to animation. Our system allowed us to train the production tool to deliver high-quality output.”
Compared to traditional production timelines — where a five-minute 3D animation could take up to four months — Cat Biggie showcases a massive gain in both time and cost efficiency.
AI Script System: Smarter Content Planning
Another exciting development is CJ ENM’s AI Script system, which acts as a virtual assistant in identifying new IP opportunities. This AI analyzes market trends, audience demand, and global content preferences to recommend genres and formats likely to succeed.
Unlike general-purpose AI tools, CJ ENM claims that their system has a deeper understanding of literary language and can work across different languages, making it more effective for global content strategy.
Expanding AI to Films and Dramas
Cat Biggie is just the beginning. CJ ENM revealed plans to move beyond animation and into full-length AI-produced films and drama series later this year. The company also plans to grow its AI-focused teams and launch programs to train creators in working with AI tools.
Shin described this move as part of their goal to evolve into a “global AI studio”, combining human creativity with machine efficiency.
Addressing the Legal and Ethical Side of AI
As AI continues to grow in the entertainment space, legal and ethical issues become more pressing. A panel discussion at the event included Sang-Hyeok Im, a partner at SHIN & KIM LLC, who called for clear industry rules.
He stressed the importance of:
- Legal frameworks for copyright and AI-generated content
- Strong data protection policies
- Government involvement in setting up dedicated departments to guide AI use
These guidelines will be crucial in helping the industry grow while protecting both creators and consumers.
CJ ENM’s Track Record of Global Success
CJ ENM is no stranger to global recognition. The company produced the Oscar-winning film Parasite, the viral show I Can See Your Voice, and Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots. With studios like Studio Dragon, Fifth Season, and CJ ENM Studios under its belt — along with its streaming platform TVING — the company is well-positioned to take its AI vision to the world stage.
A New Era for K-Content
With the launch of Cat Biggie and a full-scale AI strategy, CJ ENM is entering a bold new chapter in Korean content creation. By blending advanced technology with its rich storytelling tradition, the company is set to redefine how entertainment is made — not just in Korea, but around the world.
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