Intelligent Animation (IA), a groundbreaking new animation studio pioneering the fusion of human artistry with traditional and cutting-edge technologies, officially announced its launch today.
Driven by the philosophy that new technologies should always be in service of a human-led creative process, IA is redefining how stories are told by arming their animators with a proprietary production process that mixes traditional and new technologies to bring their art to life much faster and cheaper than normal animation. By leveraging a hybrid of traditional animation, visual effects, and AI technologies, the studio ensures that artists remain firmly in control of the creative process.
IA is founded by long-time entertainment industry creative executives Mark Stern who previously led the Syfy network and Universal Cable Productions where he oversaw the launch of some of its most popular series, and Lloyd Braun whose career includes serving as chairman of ABC Entertainment Group and WME where he worked with the industry’s top storytellers and iconic television franchises.
Said Stern, “The creative process begins and ends with the human artist. From the outset, our goal has been to give those artists a unique set of powerful tools that can help them unleash the full extent of their vision; to expedite the tedious, time-consuming steps of the production process while keeping them in control of their creative output. We’re proud to have built an ethical way to apply these powerful new technologies. We never use AI to create scripts, original artwork, or actor’s performances and our systems are protective of the copyrights of others as well as of the material we’re creating.”
The company is in production on its first two series for the soon-to-launch microseries studio and platform aTwist, co-founded by Braun, Jana Winograde and Susan Rovner.
Based on popular webcomic IP licensed from leading webcomics platform Tapas, IA’s two animated shortform series will premiere on aTwist later this year. THE DRAGON PRINCE’S BRIDE is based on the novel by C.J. Young, about a young woman whose fate as a slave changes when she discovers an injured stranger in the woods. In THE PRINCE’S PERSONAL PHYSICIAN, a female surgeon is transported to a kingdom where medical knowledge is forbidden to women and punishable by death.
Mike Zhu from Tapas Entertainment said, “From the moment we started working with Mark and the Intelligent Animation team, it was clear they were building something special. They’re passionate, professional, respectful of the source material and were genuinely collaborative every step of the way. They kept the artists and the story at the center of everything, and truly got what makes these stories resonate with fans. We couldn’t be more excited to see The Dragon Prince’s Bride and The Prince’s Personal Physician come to life this summer.”
Intelligent Animation also has a number of projects in development across various genres spanning sci-fi, horror, romance, and kids. These include EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, the best-selling 19-book action/adventure science-fiction series from author Craig Alanson; Tapas series PRINCE OF SILK AND THORN and GOVERNESS OF A TYRANT; and the aTwist project KIDNAPPED BY THE PIRATE PRINCE.
Intelligent Animation is led by a seasoned team of entertainment and media executives. In addition to leading SyFy and Universal Cable Productions, where he oversaw acclaimed series including Battlestar Galactica, Warehouse 13, and Being Human, Stern also serves as President of Echoverse, an award-winning podcast company specializing in scripted fantasy and sci-fi audio dramas. These include Grim Death & Bill the Electrocuted Criminal, which was selected for the 2026 Tribeca Festival Podcast Showcase, is directed by Tony nominee Anne Kauffman and stars Cory Michael Smith, Emmy winner Merritt Wever, Zeljko Ivanek, William Fichtner, Tony Award winner Andre de Shields, John Carroll Lynch, and Stephen Tobolowsky . Most recently, Echoverse premiered The Chronicles of Astrimos, written by Declan Dineen and starring Emmy and Tony winner Darren Criss and Maya Hawke.
Head of Development Nick Garland brings a multidisciplinary background spanning television writing, music and audio production, and media technology development, with experience across SyFy, MySpace, Mutsack, Whalerock Industries, Echoverse, and more.
Source: Press Release
