AI film and animation studio Asteria Film Co., in collaboration with The Gotham Group, Everyday Mischief and Thai animation house The Monk Studios, today announced ChikaBOOM!, a new animated short film written and directed by c. Craig Patterson (Fathead). The project features the voices of Yara Shahidi, Natasha Lyonne, Daveed Diggs, Roy Wood Jr. and Tika Sumpter.
The 10-minute short follows Chika Batstone (Shahidi), an aspiring young magician whose curiosity accidentally unleashes Kaboom (Lyonne), a chaotic magical creature, into the heart of New York City. With her world-famous magician father, The Amazin’ Arnie (Diggs), performing nearby, Chika must contain the mayhem before it’s too late.
The production is utilizing a hybrid pipeline with Asteria and Moonvalley’s proprietary generative technology to ‘reimagine traditional animation.’
“From the outset, we knew telling this story would mean exploring new technology and developing new approaches — but that’s not why you make a film,” said Patterson. “What brought so many incredible artists and filmmakers together was the chance to give audiences 10 minutes of joy through the lens of an awesome little animated girl named Chika. She’s what brought this team together — and the reason we poured so much love into every frame.”
The project brings together Academy Award winners Hannah Beachler (Black Panther) as production designer and Ruth E. Carter (Black Panther, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) as costume designer.
“We have a rare opportunity to shape how this technology is used — and it must remain in the hands of artists and animators,” added Benjamin Michel, Head of Creative R&D for Asteria. “By blending hand-drawn 2D, CG animation and generative workflows, we’ve built a hybrid pipeline to extend our animators’ capabilities. It’s driving monumental breakthroughs and helping us create something audiences have never experienced before.”
The Gotham Group packaged the project alongside Patterson, Erik Weaver and Kacie Lehner. Producers on the project include Patterson, Kacie Lehner, Alyssa Katalyna, Benjamin Michel and Ben Lock. Executive producers are Weaver, Tom Thudiyanplackal, Miles Perkins, Lyonne, Wood, Shahidi, Diggs, Ryan Stafford, Bryn Mooser, Matthew Cherchio, Justin Lacob, Eric Day, Nick Confalone and The Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Matt Shichtman and Ross Siegel. Marisa X. Castro is co-producer.
Patterson is represented by The Gotham Group and law firm McKuin Frankel Whitehead, LLP. Shahidi is repped by CAA, Linden Entertainment, 2PM Sharp and The Nord Group. Lyonne is repped by CAA, Untitled Entertainment and law firm Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham. Diggs is repped by CAA, Brookside Artist Management and law firm Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP.
ChikaBOOM! is currently in production and is due to premiere this Fall.
Learn more about Asteria at asteriafilm.com.
