What happened
Gyeonggi-based startup CreateCrew has introduced an AI-powered animation production solution aimed at streamlining the conversion of webtoons into animated content. The company, founded in March 2025, is currently offering an initial version of its software to external clients while simultaneously using the tool to produce its own animated content based on a webtoon with 10 million views. The platform is designed to automate key animation, coloring, and post-production workflows, with a specific focus on maintaining character consistency across scenes—a common challenge in current AI-generated video workflows.
CreateCrew, led by former game developer Kang Hyo-heon, is positioning its software as a bridge between AI technology and professional content production. The company claims its solution addresses the 'quality gap' in current AI-generated animation by using proprietary technology and patents to ensure character outlines and visual consistency remain stable throughout a 20-minute production.
The startup has secured approximately 200 million won in private investment and an additional 1.1 billion won through government-backed projects, including selection for the TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup) program. These funds are being used to refine the software's features and support the production of their own animated content to demonstrate the tool's capabilities.
The company is currently testing its solution through a proof of concept with Studio Grida. The software automates labor-intensive stages of the animation , including key animation based on storyboards, coloring, and post-production, while attempting to preserve the emotional and narrative intent of the original webtoon creators.
Source details: biz.chosun.com
Why it matters
The animation industry faces significant labor costs and time constraints when adapting static webtoons into long-form video content. CreateCrew’s approach attempts to bridge the gap between generic AI video generation and the professional standards required for OTT (over-the-top) streaming services. By focusing on character consistency and narrative-driven automation, the company aims to reduce production overhead for studios. The success of this technology could lower the barrier to entry for high-quality animation production, potentially disrupting traditional workflows in major markets like Japan, where the animation industry is valued at over 3 trillion won.
The integration of AI into animation production is a critical development for the creative economy, particularly in East Asia, where webtoon-to-animation adaptations are increasingly popular. By automating the most time-consuming aspects of the animation process, CreateCrew aims to make high-quality animation more accessible and cost-effective.
The company's focus on character consistency is a significant technical hurdle in the current AI landscape. If CreateCrew successfully demonstrates that its software can maintain professional standards, it could provide a scalable model for other studios to adopt, potentially shifting the economics of animation production.
The company's expansion strategy into Japan and China highlights the competitive nature of the regional animation market. Success in these territories would validate the utility of their AI-driven production model on a global scale.
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What to watch next
CreateCrew is currently conducting a proof of concept (PoC) with Studio Grida, a prominent South Korean animation studio, and is collaborating with the KAIST Graduate School of AI on research. The company’s ability to scale depends on the market reception of its first internally produced webtoon animation. Future developments will center on the company's stated goal of entering the Japanese and Chinese markets, which will require proving that their proprietary technology can maintain professional-grade quality at scale compared to existing animation production methods.
The primary metric for success will be the reception of the webtoon animation currently in production by CreateCrew. The company has explicitly stated that it must prove the quality of its output to gain traction with international platforms.
The outcome of the ongoing proof of concept with Studio Grida will be a key indicator of whether the software is ready for broader commercial deployment in professional studio environments.
The company's ability to navigate the regulatory and competitive landscapes of the Japanese and Chinese markets remains an unknown factor, as does the specific pricing model for its software, which is currently offered to external clients for a fee.