About ILLUMINAI

At ILLUMINAI Studios, founded by Pixar veteran Jesse Weglein, we believe that technology is merely an evolution of the medium, but the true soul of animation will always be deeply human.

Drawing inspiration from the revolutionary artistry and studio leadership of Walt Disney and Hayao Miyazaki, we champion the legacy of traditional animation while embracing advanced 2D, 3D, and hybrid generative technologies. These tools are designed to liberate our creators and accelerate their imagination, ensuring we never lose focus on the soulfulness inherent in human involvement. By deeply understanding the rich heritage of our craft, we are uniquely positioned to pioneer its future.

What truly sets ILLUMINAI Studios apart is our uncompromising commitment to an ethical production pipeline. Every film we produce is crafted entirely in-house, spanning from the initial concept to the final, polished frame. Within this ecosystem, artificial intelligence serves as a powerful brush rather than the artist, guaranteeing that human creative ownership remains the definitive heartbeat of every pixel.

By integrating these technologies ethically, we expedite the technical complexities of production without ever sacrificing the exceptional quality and emotional depth that families expect. Our absolute mission is to empower our creators rather than replace them, ensuring that the brilliant artists who build our worlds are respected, protected, and inspired to deliver the highest standards of global family entertainment.

Family in a sunlit nursery — ILLUMINAI Studios

17+

Years Feature Animation Experience

Story Drives Technology

Our mission is to empower visionaries with next-gen hybrid pipelines, combining the soul of original filmmaking with unmatched production efficiency to set a new standard for world-class animated storytelling.

Our Values

Innovation

Constantly pushing boundaries and exploring new technologies to create groundbreaking animation

Storytelling

Every technical advancement serves our ultimate goal: telling emotionally resonant stories

Collaboration

Bringing together diverse talents from art, technology, and storytelling to create magic

Excellence

Maintaining the highest standards of quality in every frame we create through protective creative guardrails to ensure our technology always assists the artists and not the other way around.

Leadership Team

Meet the visionaries behind ILLUMINAI Studios

Jesse Weglein

Jesse Weglein

Founder & Chief Creative Officer

Following over 15 years at Pixar Animation Studios as a Lead, Senior Technical Director, and Creative Services Marketing TD, Jesse founded ILLUMINAI Studios with a bold mission: to build a new model for cinematic animation. Combining decades of feature-film craft with cutting-edge 2D, 3D, and hybrid pipelines, he empowers director-led teams to create original, festival-acclaimed stories for global audiences.

Barbara Lowenstein

Barbara Lowenstein

Executive Producer

With an MBA from Drexel University and diverse financial management and consulting experience from major firms including Wells Fargo, JP Morgan Chase, and HSBC, Barbara provides ILLUMINAI Studios with expert financial leadership. Inspired by her passion for Studio Ghibli, she ensures our strategic goals are met while championing our core value of bringing captivating stories to global audiences.

Advisory Board

Coming Soon

We are assembling an exceptional advisory board of industry leaders and innovators. Stay tuned for announcements.