DJC Media is the design and video studio I founded in 2008. Every production is handled in-house, from story and character design through illustration, animation, editing and release. The studio began with hand-drawn 2D animation and illustrated books, and now runs its own AI production pipeline.
The same two characters, produced about ten years apart. The first version was drawn frame by frame. The second was rebuilt in 3D through the studio's AI pipeline. Side by side, they show what changed in the work and what did not.
Bob and Kale, the 2D original
Bob and Kale: Best Friends Under the Sea| Stage | 2D original | AI 3D version |
|---|---|---|
| Source | In-house picture book | The characters from the 2D original |
| Character art | Drawn in Illustrator and Photoshop | The 2D designs turned into 3D in Google Flow |
| Consistency | Every frame drawn by hand to the same design | Locked character profiles keep Bob and Kale the same in every clip |
| Planning | Story and lyrics taken from the book | Every scene written out first; ChatGPT used to pace the story and match lyrics to scenes |
| Animation | Every frame drawn by hand | One scene per clip, generated in Google Flow |
| Unit of work | A single drawn frame | A clip of up to 10 seconds, about 18 per video |
| Assembly | Frames sequenced by hand on the PowerDirector timeline | Clips cut together in PowerDirector, every transition built by hand |
| Music | Lyrics by David Martin; music and vocals by Frank Ludwig (formerly of Trooper) | Song produced with Suno |
| Production time | About 3 to 4 months | About 2 to 3 hours |
| Main challenge | Smooth motion from hand-drawn frames in an editor built for video, not animation | Keeping both characters recognisable across separately generated clips |
The hand-drawn character art from the book and the first video is the reference. Nothing is redesigned from scratch.
Google Flow turns each flat character into a 3D design. The test at this stage is simple: the 3D character must still read as the 2D one.
Each approved 3D design is saved as a locked character profile. Every clip is generated from the same profile, so Bob and Kale look the same from scene to scene.
Each scene is written out before any footage exists. ChatGPT helps pace the story and fit the lyrics to the scenes. One scene becomes one clip.
Google Flow renders each clip, up to 10 seconds long, and Suno produces the song. About 18 clips are then cut together in PowerDirector, with every transition built by hand.
AI did not replace the original design work; it builds on it. Because Bob and Kale were already designed by hand, the 3D version took hours instead of months. That artwork is still the reference every clip has to match.
The current pipeline, from script to published video. Each stage has a defined output before the next one starts.
An original story, often adapted from one of the studio's in-house picture books, with lyrics written to it.
Characters start as in-house 2D artwork and are restyled in Google Flow into 3D, anime or steampunk designs, then locked as character profiles for consistency.
Every scene is written out before any footage exists. ChatGPT helps pace the story and match lyrics to scenes.
About 18 clips per video, each up to 10 seconds, generated one scene at a time.
Clips assembled, transitions built, then titles, metadata and scheduling for YouTube.
Three more titles from DJC Kids, the studio's animation channel, each in a different art direction, with specifications, the main production challenge and the outcome for each.
Pacing a sing-along so each lyric line lands on its own clip within the 10-second limit.
A complete steampunk sing-along produced with the same pipeline as the 3D titles.
Holding one art direction steady across clips generated one scene at a time.
A Japanese anime look, informed by ten years living and working in Japan.
Turning a flat book illustration into a 3D character that still reads as the same bear.
A character from the printed page brought to screen in 3D.
The software used across DJC productions, grouped by the stage it serves.
Independent media and publishing brand, run alongside a full-time career.
Twelve years as a network member, working with assigned partner managers on collaborations and channel promotion.
Eight years as a network member alongside Maker Studios.
Dave the Canadian Beaver was read at the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo for the 85th anniversary of Canada-Japan diplomatic relations. I also helped editorial cartoonist Adrian Raeside bring Dennis the Dragon back into print.
Music and vocals for the original Bob and Kale by Frank Ludwig, formerly of Trooper.
288K+ subscribers, with new titles produced through the AI pipeline.
I can take a video from concept to publication and build an audience for it.
