Utopai Studios has named Hans Ku as chief product officer. Ku previously served as vice president of AI and engineering at Disney and played a key role in its collaboration with OpenAI on Sora. The Mountain View, California-based studio develops, produces, and distributes film and TV content and has about 25 projects in the works.
Prior experience
He also built a system for traditional animators at Walt Disney Feature Animation. At DreamWorks Animation, he created the DreamColor display with HP. That work earned him a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Studio technology
Utopai Studios runs an in-house cinematic storytelling AI system called PAI. The system supports story and character development, storyboards, and video generation and editing. PAI is designed to help move projects from early planning through video editing.
Product responsibilities
Ku will oversee product, engineering, research, and business development. He will lead work on a PAI app for filmmakers and PAI Code for developers and AI agents. The company is also developing enterprise solutions and expanding partnerships with outside studios and technology firms.
Principal projects are expected to begin production this year. The first titles are scheduled for release starting in 2027. The announced slate includes feature films Cortés, Half Moon, and The Most Serious Fart, plus series Space Nation and Journey to the West.