Staircase Studios AI is an AI-augmented animation studio that creates original, character-driven stories with a cinematic, human touch. The studio's first project, "First Corgi," is a comedic series about a cat whose orderly life is disrupted by a chaotic puppy at 10 Downing Street. By blending artist-led creative direction with AI tools, the studio accelerates production while keeping storytelling and visual taste firmly in human hands.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Traditional animation production is often slow and expensive, requiring large teams and long timelines to achieve cinematic quality. Many studios that adopt AI tools risk losing creative control, producing work that feels automated and lacks the intentional, human touch that makes stories emotionally resonant.
Solution
Staircase Studios AI creates original animated content by pairing AI-assisted production tools with artist-led creative direction. The studio's workflow is built around filmmakers, designers, and storytellers who shape every frame from concept to final image, using AI to accelerate technical processes without replacing creative judgment. Their debut project, "First Corgi," is a comedic series set at 10 Downing Street, following a poised cat named Beatrice whose orderly life is upended by a bumbling Corgi puppy named Winston. The studio's Hollywood-native team applies experience from film, television, and design to ensure the final output feels cinematic, intentional, and alive.
Target Audience
Primary audiences are streaming platforms, broadcast networks, and animation distributors seeking premium, original animated series with broad comedic appeal and high production values.
Features
- AI-augmented production pipeline that accelerates rendering, asset generation, and animation tasks while preserving human creative control
- Artist-led workflow where filmmakers and designers direct every stage from concept art to final image
- Original IP development, starting with the comedic series "First Corgi" featuring a cat-and-dog dynamic set in a political backdrop
- Character-driven storytelling focused on emotional resonance and visual polish rather than automation-first output
- Production approach rooted in traditional Hollywood craft, applying industry-standard narrative and visual techniques to animated content