The animation industry may be on the verge of a historic turning point as artificial intelligence (AI) technology slashes the cost of creating cartoons by up to 90%, according to a compelling new report from The New York Times published on 21 May 2025. Driven by rapid advances in generative AI, studios are already seeing drastic reductions in time and workforce needed to create high-quality animation, with profound implications for filmmakers, artists, and global media companies—including potential paradigm shifts in Thailand’s burgeoning animation and content creation sectors.
Historically, animation production has demanded enormous teams and significant budgets. Creating even a simple lip-synced cartoon scene could take an animator hours; producing a feature-length film could involve hundreds of skilled workers. But AI-powered tools are now transforming every step of the process, from generating images to automating mouth movements, cutting manual labor and costs at a scale described as “revolutionary.” For example, a task that once took four hours—lip-syncing a single minute of animation—can now be achieved in just 15 minutes with AI, requiring only minimal human fine-tuning (nytimes.com).
This development is not just a technological curiosity. The global animation industry is valued at a staggering $420 billion, spanning feature films, TV series, video games, and the ever-growing world of streaming and web content. In recent decades, computer-generated imagery (CGI) has already upended traditional hand-drawn techniques. But AI offers a leap even swifter and more consequential. Legendary industry executive Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-founder of DreamWorks Animation, predicts that by next year, major animation projects could be produced by teams of just 50 people—a tenth of the workforce required a decade ago.
One company at the vanguard of this transformation is Toonstar, a Los Angeles-based studio that has embraced an AI-first approach to content creation for platforms like YouTube, which now reach tens of millions of global viewers, including a rapidly rising fan base in Asia-Pacific. Toonstar’s interactive pipeline demonstrates what may soon become the industry norm: AI generates initial character art and storyboards based on textual prompts, instantly produces variations in established visual style, and synchronizes voices and sound effects—all subject to human artist supervision for creative refinement. According to Toonstar’s founders, the technology “gets us 70 percent there” and frees artists to focus on creative decision-making, not repetitive tasks.
The process represents a modern echo of the legendary Hanna-Barbera studio, which transformed the animation landscape in the 1950s by developing “limited animation,” slashing production times and costs to make weekly TV cartoon series like “The Flintstones” and “Scooby-Doo.” Today, Thailand’s own animation studios—many of which emerged from craft-oriented backgrounds—could find inspiration and competitive tools in AI, potentially democratizing an industry historically constrained by budgets and access to global distribution channels.
Yet, the disruption is not without fierce debate and controversy. Hollywood unions, artists, and writers have staged large-scale protests and strikes, arguing that AI threatens creative livelihoods and raises urgent copyright questions. Some generative AI systems have been criticized for relying on art scraped from the internet without artist consent, resulting in lawsuits around the world—including action by news organizations and individual creators (BBC). Toonstar’s answer is to use a “copyright clean” AI engine, trained solely on work commissioned from its own artists. Human talent remains at the core, the founders stress, but now with exponentially greater efficiency.
Thailand’s context is especially ripe for such a paradigm shift. The country’s animation sector has grown steadily over the past decade, with local studios contributing to international projects and generating original content for platforms such as Netflix and local television. Thai animation graduates and artists routinely participate in regional forums and competitions, but high production costs have long been a barrier to entering the global market. By lowering these costs, AI offers opportunities not only for established studios, but also for independent Thai creators, students, and “YouTube-native” talents to produce and monetize animated stories that reflect local culture and values.
Industry observers point to similar patterns globally. The current boom of animated web content is already opening doors for international co-productions and collaborations, while AI-driven translation and voice-over services instantly adapt shows into multiple languages, breaking down longstanding barriers for Thai and other Southeast Asian content to reach audiences worldwide (Variety). At the same time, original Thai cultural assets—mythology, aesthetics, regional accents—could reach unprecedented audiences if AI lowers the cost of quality localization.
Still, these opportunities come with new risks. As automation accelerates, questions about intellectual property, fair use, and the protection of Thai traditional creative assets grow more pressing. Thai policymakers, industry groups, and artists all face important choices: How can the Thai animation community benefit from global AI advances while safeguarding creative integrity and local industry jobs? What protections—and incentives—should be in place as studios adopt “copyright clean” AI tools?
Experts emphasize that the coming era of AI-powered animation may be less about replacing artists than about expanding the creative palette. As Toonstar’s lead designer puts it, “A.I. just gives you the base… It’s our job as artists to add a personality—a visual personality—by adding elements. Maybe this character is going to be a little bit evil, or maybe he’s going to be a little wacky and funny. Those are my decisions as an artist. A robot didn’t do that.”
As Thailand’s Ministry of Culture and institutions such as the Thailand Animation & Computer Graphic Association (TACGA) prepare to revise strategies for supporting digital creative industries, ongoing conversations between technologists, traditional artists, and digital entrepreneurs are essential. The future likely lies in hybrid production workflows: “Humans in the Loop,” as Toonstar founders emphasize, leveraging AI speed and scale while nurturing local stories and human originality.
Looking forward, the biggest opportunity could be for young Thai creators and small studios. As AI democratizes the tools of animation—once the province of wealthy studios—the “private club” of animated content creation may open to far more diverse voices: a development with echoes in other creative sectors from music to publishing. Thai artists can experiment, iterate rapidly, and reach audiences at home and abroad with the push of a button. If harnessed responsibly, the AI revolution offers a chance for Thailand to export its unique humor, folklore, and visual styles to the world, creating new value chains for cultural tourism and the creative economy.
For Thai readers, the takeaway is clear: The AI revolution in animation is already here. Young creators should explore the latest AI-powered tools for animation and storytelling, taking advantage of free or low-cost platforms emerging online. Studios should invest in ongoing artist training, blending traditional Thai artistic strengths with digital techniques. Policy makers must work to ensure robust copyright protection and fair access for all Thai creators, not just large studios. As with every technological leap, wise adaptation is key: Those who embrace change while protecting creative authenticity will lead the next golden age of Thai animation.
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