CJ ENM, a powerhouse in Korean entertainment, has just made a groundbreaking move that’s set to reshape the future of content creation. At a recent industry event in Seoul, the company unveiled its comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, highlighted by the premiere of its first fully AI-generated animation series, 'Cat Biggie.'
For three decades, CJ ENM has been at the forefront of cultural innovation, but this latest leap into AI marks a new chapter. The company’s executives shared their vision at the 2025 CJ ENM Culture Talk, themed “K-Content Meets AI: How AI Technology is Transforming the Future of the K-Content Industry.” Their message was clear: AI isn’t just a tool for efficiency—it’s a catalyst for creative evolution.
Reimagining Content Creation with AI
CJ ENM is integrating AI across every stage of the content value chain. From planning and production to distribution and marketing, proprietary AI systems are now central to the company’s workflow. Two standout technologies are leading the charge:
- Cinematic AI: This system is tailored for narrative content, seamlessly blending image, video, sound, and voice. It automates the processing of 3D characters and environments, ensuring consistent and high-quality visuals—a major breakthrough for AI-generated video.
- AI Script: Acting as an AI agent for intellectual property (IP) discovery, this tool analyzes consumer demand and market trends to identify promising stories and suggest optimal genres and formats. Unlike generic AI models, CJ ENM’s system is designed for a nuanced understanding of literary language and cross-lingual analysis, making it a powerful asset for global content strategy.
The Story Behind ‘Cat Biggie’
The debut of 'Cat Biggie' is more than a technical achievement—it’s a testament to what’s possible when creativity meets cutting-edge technology. The non-verbal, short-form animation follows a cat who unexpectedly becomes the father of a baby chick. Produced by a lean team of just six specialists over five months, the series consists of 30 two-minute episodes. This rapid timeline is a stark contrast to traditional 3D animation, which typically requires much larger teams and longer production cycles.
Baek Hyun-jung, head of AI business and production, explained that the biggest challenge was capturing the dynamic movements unique to animation. By converting characters into 3D data and training the production system with Cinematic AI, the team achieved a level of polish and expressiveness that rivals conventional methods.
Efficiency, Creativity, and Global Reach
The efficiency gains are remarkable. Where a typical five-minute 3D animation might take three to four months to produce, 'Cat Biggie' was completed in less time with fewer resources. This opens the door for more experimentation, diverse storytelling, and the ability to respond quickly to audience trends.
CJ ENM isn’t stopping here. The company plans to expand its AI-driven approach to film and drama, aiming to become a global AI studio. This includes growing its teams and launching creator development programs to nurture the next generation of talent.
Navigating New Challenges
With innovation comes responsibility. The entertainment industry is grappling with the regulatory and ethical implications of AI, from copyright and data protection to the need for clear industry guidelines. Experts at the event emphasized the importance of robust legal frameworks and government support to ensure that AI’s creative potential is harnessed responsibly.
Key Takeaways
- CJ ENM’s AI strategy is transforming content creation, making it faster and more flexible.
- Proprietary tools like Cinematic AI and AI Script are setting new standards for quality and efficiency.
- 'Cat Biggie' demonstrates the creative possibilities of AI-generated animation.
- The company is committed to expanding AI’s role in film and drama production.
- Addressing regulatory and ethical challenges will be crucial as AI reshapes the entertainment landscape.
CJ ENM’s bold vision signals a new era for K-Content, where technology and creativity work hand in hand to captivate audiences worldwide.