“AI-Generated Kids Shows: The Future or Flashy Garbage? Parents Beware!”

Familyguide reports that Kartoon Studios, previously known as Genius Brands, has fully embraced artificial intelligence for creating children’s content after producing two AI-generated kids series last year.

“We’re excited to be pioneers in this revolutionary approach to children’s entertainment,” stated Kartoon Studios CEO Andy Heyward.

Todd Steinman, the company’s president, highlighted AI’s benefits in terms of “cost-efficiency and rapid production,” enabling them to “broaden our content initiatives and bolster our programming pipeline in unprecedented ways.”

However, the company’s enthusiasm persists despite the fact that these AI-generated shows are the least popular on their YouTube channel and have “struggled to gain traction.”

While Kartoon Studios is all-in on AI, other entertainment companies are more cautious in their approach.

Moonbug Entertainment, the company behind COCOMELON, currently uses “no” AI in the series. However, their CCO mentioned they are investigating “potential creative benefits” of the technology.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos believes AI will “provide excellent tools for creators to tell better stories.” He added that there’s “more value in improving content quality by 10% than in reducing costs by 50%,” noting that audiences “primarily care about connecting with the storytelling.”

Legal hurdles are also a concern for interested parties. The U.S. Copyright Office doesn’t grant copyrights to machine-generated works, limiting the use of such material. Many studios have policies prohibiting AI use without explicit permission.

Nevertheless, some companies are incorporating AI tools into certain aspects of production. Toonstar, the animation studio behind STEVEN & PARKER, launched a dedicated AI studio in January to help digital creators produce low-cost content more efficiently.

Other innovative uses of AI are also emerging. The PBS Kids series LYLA IN THE LOOP plans to release interactive episodes featuring AI-assisted conversations between viewers and the main character.

STEVEN & PARKER creator Parker James believes his work would be impossible without AI technology, stating, “I can conceive any idea, and they can execute it within 24 hours.”

A recent report highlighted the growing influence of AI in children’s entertainment, with one analyst noting that “97% of kids aged 13-18 are aware of AI, and 85% globally are using it to generate content or shape music.”

Wired reported in March that children are already exposed to significant AI-generated content on YouTube, with several channels sharing AI-created animations similar to popular shows like COCOMELON.

Animation Magazine raised concerns in April about the quality and intent of AI-generated content for children, stating, “The primary issue appears to be that these AI-generated videos are not created with the goal of positively impacting young viewers. They are produced solely to generate clicks and revenue for content creators.”