The NBA legend plans to expand his production company’s development of original sports and entertainment IP through the tech-centered studio’s proprietary PAI cinematic storytelling AI platform.
Utopai Studios announced an investment from Legendary NBA Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony’s Creative 7 Productions, marking a strategic partnership to develop original sports and entertainment IP using PAI, Utopai’s proprietary cinematic storytelling AI.
The partnership will bring professional athletes and sports-driven opportunities into original projects across film, television, streaming, and digital platforms, combining Utopai Studios’ cinematic AI, production, and IP development capabilities with the creative vision of athletes and other creators.
“We're excited to partner with Utopai Studios,” Anthony said. “What stood out to me wasn't just how advanced the technology is, but the vision and intention behind it. Sports has always been grounded in real human stories that can translate to powerful entertainment IP, but bringing those stories to life hasn't always been easy. PAI changes that. It gives us a more accessible way to create and build something with long-term value.”
“With this partnership, we see a clear opportunity to develop sports-driven ideas rooted in authentic storytelling into original entertainment properties at scale,” said Asani Swann, Anthony’s business partner and co-founder of Creative 7. “With Utopai Studios, we're combining technology, production expertise, and creative infrastructure to move those ideas seamlessly into film, television, streaming, and digital platforms—faster and with greater creative control.”
“Carmelo and Asani immediately understood that this is bigger than using AI to make content faster,” said Cecilia Shen, co-founder and CEO of Utopai Studios. “We are building a new studio system for the AI era, one that gives creators, athletes, and talent a more direct path to develop original IP while preserving authorship, ownership, and creative control. With Creative 7 and PAI, we can help turn powerful athlete-driven stories into entertainment properties built for film, television, streaming, animation, and digital audiences.”
One of the first planned projects is an anime-inspired property based on Anthony’s world, drawing on defining moments from his Hall of Fame career, his perspective, and the broader culture surrounding the game. The initial rollout is expected to include a short-form series and behind-the-scenes content tied to Anthony’s creative involvement.
The announcement follows Utopai Studios’ recent work with professional athletes, including a project with NBA star James Harden on an AI-animated short about his signature beard, created with PAI, and reflects the company’s broader push into sports-driven entertainment IP.
Utopai Studios is building a global entertainment company for the AI era. Its business model centers on original IP, production, talent, financing, distribution, and audience demand, with AI embedded in studio production to increase speed, efficiency, scalability, and creative opportunity. Its international footprint includes Utopai East, a wholly owned subsidiary in Korea, and Utopai GmbH in Germany.
PAI is Utopai Studios’ proprietary cinematic narrative AI system and the core engine of its AI-native production ecosystem. It supports development, visualization, scene planning, continuity management, editing, localization, and delivery in a system designed to mirror traditional Hollywood production while expanding what can be made, how quickly it can be produced, and how efficiently it can scale worldwide.
Creative 7 Productions is a global, multi-platform content company producing purpose-driven projects across film, television, documentary, animation, audio, and digital content. Anthony and Swann established the company to champion narratives and voices they say have gone unheard, with a slate of projects in various stages of development and production focused on diversity, social impact, and entertainment-forward storytelling.
Source: Utopai
Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.
