AI animation startup Cartwheel has officially launched its highly anticipated 3D animation platform, designed to bring faster, easier, and more accessible animation to professionals and beginners alike.
Emerging from an exclusive beta with over 60,000 users on the waiting list, Cartwheel’s AI-powered platform removes technical barriers to animation, making it possible for users to focus on storytelling and creative performance. “Like what the iPhone did for photography, we believe Cartwheel will do for animation. We’ve developed a new way to simplify the animation process, putting creatives in the drivers’ seat as they dramatically accelerate their workflows, eliminate tedious tasks, free up budget for more creative exploration, and enhance control over their final products,” said Jonathan Jarvis and Andrew Carr, Cartwheel’s Co-founders, in a statement.
Cartwheel’s tools turn video, text, and motion libraries into production-ready 3D character animations, enabling quick editing and effortless integration into existing creative workflows. Animators can refine clips using Cartwheel or their preferred software, while newcomers can generate scenes with minimal technical know-how. Its extensive motion library supports both rapid prototyping and detailed scene development.
The team behind Cartwheel includes leading figures from OpenAI, Google, Pixar, and Riot Games. Carr, former OpenAI scientist, and Jarvis, a former Google Creative Lab director, are joined by Catherine Hicks and Neil Helm, as heads of animation innovation and interactive animation, respectively. These two animation veterans both boast impressive Pixar credits (think Inside Out and Toy Story).
Cartwheel also announced a fresh $10M funding round led by Craft Ventures, with backing from WndrCo, Tirta Ventures, Runway, and others, bringing total funding to $15.6M. “Cartwheel has changed the entire paradigm of animation,” said Ben Feder, Managing Partner at Tirta Ventures.
Used in beta by creatives from DreamWorks, Duolingo, and Sony, Cartwheel has already demonstrated its ability to streamline production and expand creative possibilities. As Lainy Painter Singh of Craft Ventures noted, “Cartwheel will help animators expand the frontier of what is possible.”
