It has partnered with Ron Howard & Brian Grazer production house Imagine Entertainment
Obsidian, a production company that aims to embed AI in its processes, has been launched by director Wes Walker and Gang Group founder Louis Gheysens.
It has partnered with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard business Imagine Entertainment to explore its business plan of small director-driven units of storyboard artists, CG generalists, editors, and AI specialists. Each unit begins with hand-drawn storyboards and human-centric design, then moves through AI-enabled iteration and high-end visual effects with the aim of cutting production time from months to weeks.
The Imagine partnership extends across development, pre-visualisation, and post-production, including the production company’s upcoming feature film and documentary projects.
Storyboards and custom datasets have been developed alongside industry artists Marc Vena (Logan, Passengers, War for The Planet of the Apes) and Tani Kunitake (Black Panther, The Matrix, Fight Club, Star Wars: The Last Jedi), which will be used to train the AI workflows.
Obsidian also has patent-pending technologies such as DigitalForge, a live team-based production system, and EchoChrome, which anchors premium image quality. These hope to bring AI and CGI directly on set.
Obsidian has already worked with the likes of Louis Vuitton, Longchamp, Crayola, Aramco, Amazon, NBA, ESPN, and several other brands to deliver films and campaigns during 2025. The company is now expanding its R&D and partnerships with a focus on generating original IP and unique audience experiences, with offices across Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Brussels, Riyadh, and Dubai.
Walker said: “The artist sits at the center of everything we do. Technology alone doesn’t move people, emotion does. It’s the artist using the tools, not the tools themselves, that makes the image feel real, the spirit tangible, and the connection with the audience unmistakable.”
He added: “Great work is longevity. That is our bar. AI gives us a chance to imagine beyond the limits of production. It’s a way to build new worlds and bring audiences closer to stories that feel vivid and human.”
Gheysens said: “Hollywood and global brands face the same challenge: more stories, tighter budgets. Our DigitalForge model was designed for exactly that, scaling production efficiently while keeping creative integrity intact.”
Justin Wilkes, president of Imagine Entertainment, said: “At Imagine, we are committed to emotionally resonant, human storytelling and we have already seen the ways AI can be a beneficial tool in that mission. Obsidian’s artist-led approach is exactly the kind of collaboration we stand behind to amplify human creativity and we’re excited to be working with them.”
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