This interview was edited for clarity.
Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022 has a lot of gems showing what’s next for electronics including content creators. Ideaconcert is one of those companies trying to make as aspect of content creation better. Ideaconcert is a company trying to expand tools for comics. Through their variety of suits, they want to make manga and comics more interactive. We wanted to catch up with Ideaconcert about their latest tools for manga creation. We talked to Associate Manager Maulana Rizki about what’s next for them in 2022.
The interview was edited for clarity.
Fandom Post: In short tell us about Ideaconcert, and what were the motivations behind developing the Toonvie.
Maulana Rizki: Ideaconcert is a company that develops technology that makes it easy for creators to create content and promote content well. In particular, when it comes to content, K-Webtoon comes to mind first. We are continuously researching how to make this webtoon content easier and more fun to enjoy with the help of our technology. The most representative service is “Toonive”, an authoring tool that can turn existing webtoons into attractive short videos.
FP: One feature of Toonvie is the application of machine learning to enhance the video process, how does machine learning work in Toonvie?
MR: Through the application of ML technology, toonivie has several functions that can help users easily create videos from image content such as comics or webtoons. These functions are auto image separation technology, 3D camera effect, auto coloring technology and color transformation technology.
for example, where auto image separation technology uses AI & ML by identifying characters, text balloons and backgrounds so that this function allows users to easily separate each image component with just one click.
FP: Generation Z (Gen Z) is a mobile-native demographics why is Toonvie not designed for mobile platforms like iPadOS, or Android?
MR: As previously mentioned that Generation Z is most exposed to the cellular environment. That’s why ideaconcert created toonivie. as you know K-Webtoons, which can be seen easily, are very popular all over the world. Toonivie itself is a production service that lets you easily turn existing webtoons into engaging short video content. Children can easily enjoy webtoon content in the form of videos comfortably on their mobile phones.
FP: How will you allow creators to distribute these animated webcomics?
MR: We are currently developing a platform where everyone can not only enjoy the content we create using our technology, but they can also convert their own image content such as comics or webtoons into videos. The platform is expected to be released in May this year. Through the combination of platforms and technology that we provide, everyone can contribute to the content of this animated webcomic.
FP: How does Toonvie handle multiple author collaboration?
MR: Toonivie is a technology that makes it easier to create video content from webcomic content. This technology helps in reducing production time so that making videos from content created by collaboration of many authors will not be a problem.
FP: Knowing that other alternatives exist within the market like Comipo and even Adobe’s suits of animation, what sets this application apart?
MR: The biggest differentiator of Ideaconcert is that our company not only creates content but also develops technology related to content. The nature of the content changes depending on the platform, and the results of the content produced vary depending on the technology used. Ideaconcert is growing by creating a synergistic effect of content, platform, and production technology. This case our technology “toonivie” was developed through this concern so that our technology compared to others is very easy to use even by non-professional video makers just by learning it for 40 hours.
FP: How does Toonvie allow for multiple authors and artists to collaborate on the platform?
MR: The platform that we will release this year is an open platform where everyone can easily access it. So any number of authors and artists who are interested in making their own content into video content can access the platform and use the technology we share without any obstacles and difficulties.
FP: The Coronavirus pandemic changed the trajectory for many companies and platforms. What were the challenges that Ideaconcert had to go through and what opportunities came up because of the pandemic?
MR:We don’t see this coronavirus pandemic as a challenge, but rather a good momentum for us as a content provider company. This is because as you know, with this pandemic, people’s consumption of internet content, including webcomics and videos, has greatly increased. Our technology allows us to produce a lot of video content in a relatively short time with good quality that can be enjoyed by readers around the world.
FP: What was the reception for Toonvie like at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022?
MR: At this CES event we had the opportunity to introduce our technology to the masses. We hope that with our presence at one of the biggest events in the world, many people will know and understand the technology that we develop, thus opening up opportunities for us to meet potential investors and business partners who can help us go further into global markets such as American market.
FP: What’s next for Ideaconcert?
MR: We are currently developing a new technology called Toontra, a service that translates webtoon images automatically. Through this service, we will translate more Korean webtoons and make them known worldwide. A global content platform where you can enjoy translated webtoon video content is also being developed. Please look forward to the value of future content and technology that Ideaconcert has prepared.
