Mon Sep 09 15:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Oscar-Nominated Studio XTR Acquires AI Animation Studio Late Night Labs, Launches New Production Company Asteria Film Co.

**LOS ANGELES** – Oscar-nominated film and television studio XTR has acquired Late Night Labs, an AI-powered film and animation studio, and launched a new production company, Asteria Film Co. This move marks XTR’s foray into the world of AI-driven filmmaking.

Late Night Labs, known for its artist-led approach and proprietary AI technology, will be integrated into Asteria Film Co. The new company will focus on producing animated, fiction, and non-fiction films and television content. It will also house XTR’s existing streaming platform and Fast channel Documentary+.

“Late Night Labs has been building the Pixar of AI,” said Bryn Mooser, co-founder of Asteria Film Co. and XTR. “They are a best-in-class team who have built groundbreaking technology that empowers artists and filmmakers to unlock creativity like never before.”

Asteria Film Co. is named after the Greek goddess of constellations and will be using Late Night Labs’ AI technology to create a slate of narrative films and television series with leading filmmakers. This technology, which gives artists more control over AI tools, aims to “amplify their vision and ultimately make more stories possible,” according to Mooser.

XTR will continue its focus on non-fiction content through its existing productions, including documentaries, series, podcasts, and shorts. Its channel, Documentary+, will remain available on smart televisions, reaching over 120 million American homes.

Mooser emphasized the responsible use of AI in filmmaking, stating, “We sit at a crossroads in the entertainment industry, and AI represents the most significant leap forward in technology since the computer. It is in these moments of change that the future gets written. And we want to make sure we help shape this moment responsibly and in service of the artists, not the other way around.”

XTR is known for its critically acclaimed documentaries, including “Daughters,” which is considered a 2025 Oscar contender. The company has also been involved in several Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning projects, solidifying its position as a leader in the entertainment industry.

Asteria Film Co. is expected to debut its first projects later this year. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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