Chinese AI video generator Vidu has signed an IP deal for 1999 animated series Journey To The West: Legends of the Monkey King allowing the use of the show’s aesthetic and images in a new tool it is currently rolling out.
Under the new feature due to be introduced to Vidu over the coming months, users will be able to upload a single photo of themselves and reinterpret the original 26-part series, which was produced by China Central Television and CINAR Corporation.
The announcement follows in the wake of a backlash against OpenAI after a feature in its updated video generation model Sora allowed users to transform personal photos into the distinct animation style of Japan’s Studio Ghibli, prompting anger from the company’s chief artist and founder Hayao Miyazaki.
Vidu announced the IP deal during its Tokyo Global Talents Meetup, which is taking place at the same time as the Annecy International Film Festival in France, where generative AI and its use of existing content is a hot button topic for the animation community this year.
The company said its IP initiative marked a different approach, suggesting it was a milestone in the evolution of generative AI, which set a blueprint for next-gen original content studios.
“While Sora took full advantage of Studio Ghibli for content showcases, Vidu pioneered long-term IP value through co-creation, securing rights and embracing cultural legacy,” the company said in a release.
Under the new tool, Vidu will analyze a user’s photo and apply the distinct aesthetic of the 1999 Journey to the West anime art style to their likeness.
“The user can then select from a curated list of engaging, pre-defined plotline templates or scenarios that will result in a 16 second personalized video segment,” Vidu explained in a release.
“For instance, in one template, Sun Wukong (The Monkey King) is conjuring many little monkeys to help with his chores. But he can be made to humorously interact with your digital likeness at the same time, and affix believable generated voiceovers and background music to the clip.”
Luo Yihang, CEO at Beijing-based ShengShu Technology, said the initiative marked a positive step for the relationship between AI and IP.
“We’re incredibly excited not only about this partnership, but about what it represents for the future of IP,” he said.
“For the first time, generative AI isn’t just powering creativity behind the scenes, but it’s becoming a vehicle for ownership, worldbuilding, and reimagining beloved stories. Only now, with Vidu, we’re proving that generative video platforms can do more than generate content. Vidu is building for creative co-ownership through strategic partnerships or even future acquisitions, which can help shape the next generation of cultural IP.”
