AIThority Interview With Johnny Jan, CEO and founder of Winking Studios

Johnny Jan the CEO and founder of Winking Studios highlights the use of AI in-game animation development, future trends, AI-driven tools transforming 3D animation, and more in this Q&A:

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With GenMotion.AI recently launched, how do you envision this AI-driven tool transforming the 3D animation industry, and what does it signify for Winking Studios’ future strategy?

 We designed this tool to boost animators’ productivity, and AI technology just happens to help us achieve that. AI is a means, not the goal. Our goal is to support and empower animators by creating features that enhance their workflow. Innovations don’t change processes overnight—they succeed when they fit seamlessly into existing workflows. We’ll continue leveraging AI for other aspects of art production as well.

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Can you highlight insights on the inspiration behind its development and AI’s role in pushing the boundaries of game animation?

We’ve been following AI trends closely for a long time, and as 2D image generation started producing production-quality results, we dedicated resources to adapting and researching the latest AI for art production. With our expertise in creating high-quality, copyrighted 3D animation content, and our deep understanding of animators’ workflows, we knew we were in the right position to build our own AI tool. We believe AI can truly help animators. As the demand for 3D games and animated films continues to grow, AI can handle the massive volume of animations, freeing animators to focus on tasks that truly require their creativity.

The use of AI in game development is growing rapidly. In your opinion, what are the key areas where AI has the potential to make the biggest impact in gaming and animation over the next few years?

 In many areas of game development—2D art, 3D models, animations, music, game design, coding, QA, and localization—AI has made strides in some fields but lags in others. AI tools face several challenges, and there are three key factors to consider:

1.  AI Model – How much computing power is required to train the model? For instance, training large language models (LLMs) demands resources that only a few major corporations can afford.

2. Dataset – How accessible is the training data? Collecting data for 3D models and animations is far more difficult than for videos or images available online.

3. Copyright – How easy is it to legally gather and use copyrighted content in commercial products? Copyright is a critical issue that must be addressed.

Once these hurdles are addressed, AI will revolutionise production pipelines, particularly in areas like animation, where large volumes of content are needed. For 3D animation, datasets and copyrighted content are difficult to obtain, but this is our strength. That’s why we’ve dedicated resources to building GenMotion.AI, an AI-driven 3D animation tool.

While AI will continue to improve specific aspects of game development, we still need professionals to bring everything together. Games, as one of the most complex forms of entertainment, combine art, technology, creativity and player interaction — something that AI alone cannot achieve.

With AI playing a key role in innovation, what new skill sets do you foresee being in high demand for future game design and development employees?

In the future, proficiency with AI tools—including mastering prompts—will be a vital skill for game design and development professionals. However, it’s not just about knowing how to use the tools—it’s about combining that with deep domain knowledge. Understanding how to integrate AI into the daily workflow, whether in 3D modelling, animation, or game design, will be crucial for optimising efficiency.

For seasoned professionals, there’s no need to worry about AI replacing their roles. AI will serve as a powerful tool to enhance productivity, but it won’t replace the creative eye, critical thinking, or expertise that comes from years of experience. Professionals who can leverage AI while applying their own creative vision will be in the highest demand, as they’ll be able to produce more, faster, without sacrificing quality or originality.

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How is Winking Studios ensuring that AI technology complements rather than replaces human creativity in your projects?

Replacing human creativity is a huge challenge, and I don’t believe any technology can truly achieve it. New technologies tend to lower the entry point while raising the quality bar, as we saw with mobile games, and we’ll soon see many AI-driven games hitting the market. However, AI can’t create motions or art that deeply resonate with people because it lacks the emotion and motivation behind true creativity. Just as we’ve developed an eye for spotting fake news or fraud, people will eventually recognize AI-generated content that lacks heart.

Our AI tool is designed with human needs in mind. We understand that art is the result of a series of creative choices. We’re not building a tool that allows artists to generate something with one click. Instead, we’re offering features that allow AI to be used in ways that complement human needs. For professionals, we provide advanced editing options to fine-tune their creations. For amateurs, we offer an intuitive interface to help bring their ideas to life. Our goal is to enhance human creativity, not replace it.

Finally, What are your views on the future of AI and its impact on game development?

Across all aspects of game development—3D modelling, animation, game design, 2D concept art, coding, and localization—AI is progressing at different paces. While some areas may advance quickly, others might take longer to catch up. Initially, AI will play a significant role in prototyping, but over time, we’ll see more practical applications fully integrated into production pipelines. As AI tools become more specialised, they will streamline workflows, speeding up development without replacing human creativity and expertise.

AI technology has ushered in an era where players, businesses, and independent developers all benefit. However, increased efficiency won’t necessarily lead to reduced budgets. In fact, game development costs are likely to remain the same or even rise. That said, the industry will produce games of vastly higher quality—10 to 100 times better—offering longer and more immersive play experiences.

Thank you, Johnny, for sharing your insights with us.

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