Publisher Harlequin joins AI outfit Dashverse to coproduce animated microdramas

Canadian book publisher Harlequin and AI-native entertainment company Dashverse have partnered to coproduce 40 animated microdramas inspired by Harlequin’s romance novels.

A Fairy-Tail Ending

The microdramas will be developed by a team of illustrators, assisted by Dashverse’s AI-powered creation platform Frameo, into mobile-friendly episodes tailored to on-the-go audiences.

They will be distributed in English across global microdrama platforms including Dashverse’s DashReels.

The collaboration will launch in April with its first project, an adaptation of A Fairy-Tail Ending by Catherine Mann.

Additional adaptations, slated for release in May, include Forbidden Fiji Nights with Her Rival by JC Harroway, Newlywed Enemies by Jackie Ashenden, The King’s Pregnancy Proposition by LaQuette and Mistletoe Baby Mix-Up by JC Harroway.

Brent Lewis, exec VP and publisher at Harlequin, said: “This partnership with Dashverse represents an exciting opportunity to reimagine these cherished stories for a new audience, leveraging cutting-edge technology to bring them to life in an innovative and engaging medium.”

Sanidhya Narain, CEO and co-founder of Dashverse, added: “Some of the most powerful stories in the world already exist, they just need to be experienced in new ways. With Harlequin, we’re unlocking a vast library of beloved stories and reimagining them for a format that is visual, immediate and built for today’s generation. This is a step towards building global entertainment franchises from existing IP, powered by AI.”