These days, your favorite TikTok star may not even be a real person. Thanks to animation studio Invisible Universe, a charismatic baby doll and a fluffy dog who’s a culinary connoisseur are just two animated personalities that have amassed growing fanbases.
After pulling in $12 million in fresh capital, the Los Angeles company is gearing up to introduce more unique characters across new social media and Web3 platforms.
Invisible Universe develops and debuts original animated character franchises. The company’s tech platform centers on internet-first intellectual property incubation. In partnership with celebrities such as tennis star Serena Williams and actress Jennifer Aniston, the studio creates animated characters with unique stories, appearances and personalities that can appear just as content creators would on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
Some of Invisible Universe’s characters include Qai Qai, a “living” portrayal of a doll owned by Williams’ daughter; Squeaky and Roy, which embody toys owned by TikTok stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio; and Clydeo, a food-loving character based on Aniston’s dog. Across all of its accounts, Invisible Universe has accumulated more than 8.5 million followers and has an average audience engagement rate of 10 percent, according to the company.
“Invisible Universe has pioneered what it means to launch indelible character IP on the internet,” Invisible Universe CEO Tricia Biggio said in a statement. “Our characters have captured the hearts of audiences, made them laugh and allowed them to feel seen while providing a moment of delight in the timelines of their favorite social platforms…. When my two toddlers ask for Qai Qai or Clydeo instead of mainstream favorites, I know we’re building something special.”
The company has an abundance of plans for its Series A funding. The round, led by Seven Seven Six, includes participation from investors like Cosmic Venture Partners, Dapper Labs and Franklin Templeton. Some of its previous investors are Will Smith’s Dreamers VC, as well as other celebrities like Williams and Aniston. Invisible Universe’s main investment goal is to seed and grow more IP and commercialize its franchises at scale.
So far, its Qai Qai franchise has seen rapid success. The company launched a now sold-out NFT collection on kids’ social platform Zigazoo, released a music video on YouTube and is preparing to release Williams’ first children’s book, titled “The Adventures of Qai Qai.” Building on this momentum, Invisible Universe is expanding its other popular franchises to outlets like publishing, TV shows, movies, games and toys.
Early this fall, the company is also launching its first Web3 franchise called The R3al Metaverse. This NFT project will allow holders to influence the storytelling of the related animated series.
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