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MiniStudio didn’t launch with a splashy marketing campaign or a traditional development slate. The Paris-based AI studio rolled out in 2024 with just one IP, “Fuzzlets” which has quietly become a breakout hit, generating 159 million monthly views across YouTube and amassing 3.1 million followers without a single dollar spent on advertising.
Pitched as the “first fully AI-native animation ecosystem for kids and families,” the Paris-based studio was founded by a bunch of millennials with impressive track records: Youmna Chamcham, who previously co-created, starred in and produced “Mini Studio,” one of the MENA region’s longest-running kids TV franchises and built LiveLove, a 17-million-strong digital community; alongside Marcella Ricca, an education and behavioral-science specialist; and Fabrice Nadjari, a former tech adviser to the French presidency and an Emmy-nominated storyteller who worked in Afghanistan.
From left to right: Fabrice Nadjari, Marcella Ricca and Youmna Chamcham. (Courtesy of MiniStudio)
MiniStudio, which is being currently courted by animation powerhouses, had anticipated the emerging collaborations between traditional and AI players, as seen recently with Disney making a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and licensing its intellectual property (including 200 characters) to Sora.
Already backed by major tech and media players including PocketWatch’s Chris Williams, a16z Games, Xavier Niel and Mistral AI’s JC Samuelian, MiniStudio is now scaling up, opening its internal AI tools to creators, expanding personalization and developing its first animated feature film.
Chamcham says MiniStudio has opened its tools to creators to democratize animation production and unlock a new wave of original IP with fewer structural barriers.
The company also points out a six-person team can produce an episode in roughly three weeks – two weeks of storyboarding, one week of animation and post-production — at a cost of about $1,000 per minute, says MiniStudio, which cites “Bluey” as an example of premium preschool animation that typically requires teams of dozens, several months of production and post production, and budgets closer to $16,000 per minute.
Nadjari oversaw the development of the studio’s proprietary workflows, while Ricca, who has built education curricula and large-scale experiential projects, shaped the platform’s emotional and pedagogical framework. The idea behind MiniStudio is to deliver content that’s “emotionally intelligent” and helps children unwind and connect, rather than produce fast-paced, algorithm-driven kids content. Set in Joyville, “The Fuzzlets” is an animated series following soulful, mischievous characters as they lead children on journeys learning empathy, bravery and kindness.
“When a child sees themselves inside a story, the psychology changes. It stops being entertainment and becomes recognition,” said Ricca. “They’re not just watching someone else, they’re experiencing what it feels like to be at the centre of the narrative, practicing courage, empathy and creativity. For us, personalization is the architecture of self‑worth,” she continued.
MiniStudio is also launching tools that allow users to create their own cartoons using the same AI workflows that power Fuzzlets. These tools give full creative control over characters, stories and styles.
Users can personalize Fuzzlets stories and songs, and create musical cards, holiday messages and short-form videos built around positive emotional cues. The company has already tested personalized cartoons and reported many reels becoming viral.
On top of positioning itself as an animation banner, MiniStudio is also a technology platform that’s building new templates, new visual styles, expanded toolsets, and a community page where users can share and collaborate on cartoons.
“We make stories with the heart of an animation studio and the flexibility of AI, creating worlds that respond to the child who enters them. We’re not just tech; we’re not just media; we’re something entirely new,” said Nadjari.
MiniStudio is now expanding its Fuzzlets IP into long-form storytelling for its animated feature debut, “Sunhaven and the Sunkeepers.”
Set in the twilight world of Sunhaven, the film will follow four children pulled from Earth into a realm where joy and color are draining away. Each child embodies an emotional trait – courage, creativity, empathy and wisdom — and must face a deeply personal trial to restore balance. Alongside them are Fuzzy and Purp, two Fuzzlet brothers searching for their lost family. The company is also extending its IP’s beyond screens with a merchandising line including soundbooks and plush toys.
Speaking of MiniStudio’s longterm vision, Chamcham said the company’s goal is “to build a world where every child can be part of the stories they love. Whether they’re alongside a Fuzzlet or future iconic IP partners, the message is always: you belong.”
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