This Animation Startup Wants to Make It Easier to Tell Open-Ended Stories - CNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Founded by former OpenAI scientist Andrew Carr and former Google creative director Jonathan Jarvis, Cartwheel is bridging the gap between 2D vision and 3D execution. The shift from flat images to 3D assets is what gives animators the control they have been missing in the AI era. The current wave of generative AI animation often feels like a magic trick that only works once. You type in a prompt, a video appears, and if you don’t like the result — maybe the feet are all wonky, which is a regular issue with AI generations — your only real option is to try a different prompt. This “black box” approach is exactly what Cartwheel, a new 3D animation startup, is trying to dismantle. Andrew Carr and Jonathan Jarvis, two veterans with roots at OpenAI and Google, respectively, founded the company, which is working to build a future where AI handles the technical drudgery of animation while leaving the creat