AI Startup Cartwheel, Led By OpenAI And Google Veterans, Raises $10 Million To Simplify 3D Animation

Forbes - May 15th, 2025
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Cartwheel, a new 3D animation startup founded by OpenAI's Andrew Carr and former Google creative director Jonathan Jarvis, has launched with an innovative browser-based platform aiming to transform how character animations are created for various media. The company announced a $10 million funding round led by Craft Ventures, contributing to a total of $15.6 million raised. Cartwheel's tools enable users to quickly generate rigged 3D animations from text, video, or motion prompts, significantly reducing animation creation time from days to minutes. The platform supports exports to professional environments like Maya and Unreal, and offers a simplified interface for users with less technical expertise. With an early access program drawing over 8,000 beta users, including major industry players, Cartwheel aims to streamline animation processes such as background and crowd animation, rapid prototyping, and previsualization.

Cartwheel is entering a competitive space populated by companies like Anything World and Wonder Dynamics, each contributing unique approaches to animation technologies. The startup emphasizes ethical AI training practices using licensed 3D assets, responding to growing legal scrutiny in the field. With a team comprising veterans from Pixar, Riot Games, Sony, and Unity, including notable figures like Catherine Hicks and Neil Helm, Cartwheel is refining its tools from an animator's perspective. The company plans to release an API later this year to allow developers to integrate its tools into various interactive environments. Investors envision Cartwheel's technology extending beyond entertainment into marketing, education, and e-commerce, marking it as a versatile tool in the digital storytelling landscape.

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RATING

7.2
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a well-structured and timely overview of Cartwheel, a new player in the 3D animation industry. It effectively highlights the company's innovative technology and potential to disrupt traditional animation workflows. The narrative is clear and engaging, supported by quotes from the founders and examples of the platform's capabilities.

However, the article's reliance on internal sources and the lack of critical perspectives or third-party verification limit its balance and source quality. While it touches on important topics like ethical data sourcing, it does not delve deeply into potential controversies or challenges associated with AI-driven animation tools.

Overall, the article succeeds in presenting Cartwheel as a promising innovation in the animation industry but could benefit from a more nuanced exploration of the broader implications and potential challenges of AI technology. By incorporating diverse perspectives and addressing potential risks, the article could provide a more comprehensive understanding of Cartwheel's impact and significance.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story presents a largely accurate account of Cartwheel, a new 3D animation company, with verifiable details on its founders, funding, and technology. The article correctly identifies Andrew Carr and Jonathan Jarvis as the founders, noting their backgrounds at OpenAI and Google, respectively. It accurately reports the $10 million funding round led by Craft Ventures, supported by additional investors like WndrCo and Khosla Ventures. The claims about the platform's capabilities, such as generating 3D animations from text prompts and integrating with industry-standard tools like Maya and Unreal, are consistent with the company's stated offerings.

However, some areas require verification, such as the exact number of beta users and specific early access participants from companies like DreamWorks and Roblox. The article's assertion that the technology reduces animation tasks from hours to minutes is a bold claim that would benefit from empirical evidence or user testimonials. Additionally, while the article mentions ethical sourcing of training data, it does not provide detailed evidence or examples of this practice.

Overall, the story aligns well with known facts and industry reports, but some claims, particularly those regarding user experiences and technological efficiencies, would benefit from further substantiation.

7
Balance

The article provides a predominantly positive view of Cartwheel, focusing on its innovative technology and potential to disrupt the animation industry. It highlights the company's strengths, such as its advanced animation tools and experienced team, without delving into potential challenges or criticisms. This one-sided perspective can create an impression of bias, as it omits any discussion of potential downsides, such as the limitations of the technology or the competitive landscape.

While the article mentions competitors like Anything World and Wonder Dynamics, it does so briefly and without exploring how Cartwheel compares in terms of features, pricing, or market reach. Including perspectives from industry experts or users could have provided a more rounded view of Cartwheel's position in the market and its potential impact.

The lack of critical viewpoints or discussion of potential risks suggests a degree of favoritism towards Cartwheel. A more balanced approach would involve acknowledging potential challenges or limitations alongside the positive aspects.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear, concise language to convey the main points about Cartwheel's technology and market positioning. The chronological flow of information, from the company's founding to its recent funding round and future plans, helps readers easily follow the narrative.

Technical terms related to animation and technology are explained in a way that is accessible to a general audience, ensuring that readers without a background in animation can still grasp the significance of Cartwheel's innovations. The use of specific examples, such as the ability to generate animations from text prompts, aids in illustrating the platform's capabilities.

However, some sections could benefit from additional detail or clarification, particularly regarding the technical aspects of the platform and its integration with industry-standard tools. Providing more context or examples in these areas would enhance comprehension and ensure that readers fully understand the implications of the technology.

6
Source quality

The article relies on statements from the company's founders, Andrew Carr and Jonathan Jarvis, which are credible sources given their roles. However, it lacks external sources or independent verification from industry experts or analysts, which could enhance the story's credibility. The inclusion of comments from investors or users of the platform would provide additional perspectives and strengthen the article's reliability.

The absence of diverse sources means that the narrative is primarily driven by the company's perspective. While the founders' insights are valuable, the article would benefit from corroborating information from third-party sources or market analysts to provide a more comprehensive view.

Overall, the reliance on internal sources limits the depth and breadth of the article's analysis. Incorporating a wider range of voices and perspectives would improve the source quality and provide a more nuanced understanding of Cartwheel's impact and potential.

7
Transparency

The article is transparent about the company's background, founders, and funding details, providing clear information on Cartwheel's objectives and technological innovations. The founders' quotes and the description of the platform's capabilities are presented openly, allowing readers to understand the company's mission and offerings.

However, the article lacks transparency regarding the methodology behind the reported claims, such as the precise nature of the technology's efficiency improvements or the ethical sourcing of training data. Providing more detailed explanations or evidence for these claims would enhance transparency and help readers assess the validity of the information.

Additionally, the article does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest, such as relationships between the company and the publication or the authors. While there is no indication of such conflicts, explicitly addressing this aspect would further strengthen the article's transparency.

Sources

  1. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/business/ai-animated-video-generator-hedra-raises-32-million-247269.html
  2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cartwheel-unlocks-a-world-of-storytelling-opportunities-for-games-movies-social-media-and-advertising-with-the-launch-of-its-new-3d-animation-platform-302456368.html
  3. https://www.kanalcoin.com/cartwheel-funding-3d-animation-tools/
  4. https://beamstart.com/news/ai-startup-cartwheel-led-by-17473529416387
  5. https://www.cartoonbrew.com/tech/jeffrey-katzenberg-backed-ai-animation-software-cartwheel-raises-10-million-247264.html