Creating art has never been easier, and thanks to AI, the process is about to get even smoother. Take video production, for example. Companies are now using AI tools to create high-quality videos and animations with just a few clicks and prompts. Giants like Google’s Veo 2 and OpenAI’s Sora are already leading the charge, but a South Korean startup named Cinamon is joining the race with its own innovative platform.

Recently, Cinamon secured $8.5 million in a Series B funding round to accelerate the development of its animated video generator, CINEV. The platform, set to launch in beta by mid-2025, promises to revolutionize how 3D animations are made. Investors like Altos Venture and Saehan Venture Capital are backing the project, betting on its potential to stand out in a crowded market.

So, what makes CINEV unique? Unlike traditional AI video tools that generate pixels from text or images, Cinamon’s platform combines a 3D asset library, AI motion generation, and a filmmaking-focused language model. This allows users to construct detailed 3D scenes, place characters, and edit camera angles—all with simple text prompts and sliders. The result? A seamless process that’s perfect for creating longer content like films and dramas.

Cinamon’s journey began in 2019 as Cinamon Games. Starting with interactive storytelling apps, the company pivoted to focus on 3D animation tools to meet the growing demand for scalable animation production. With support from major players like Krafton and Naver Z, Cinamon has been steadily building its platform and integrating AI features to enhance efficiency.

Looking ahead, Cinamon plans to leverage its investors’ intellectual properties (IPs) and 3D assets to expand its offerings. With Krafton’s gaming assets and Naver Z’s metaverse platform, Zepeto, the startup aims to empower creators to produce high-quality animation faster and cheaper.

Cinamon’s CEO, Doosun Hong, envisions CINEV as a game-changer for content creators, from individual artists to large IP companies. The startup plans to use its new funding to hire more AI engineers and ramp up research and development. With $18.5 million raised to date, Cinamon is on track to make 3D animation more accessible than ever.