HarperCollins Teams Up With Toonstar to Turn Popular Books Into Animated Series
HarperCollins is expanding its storytelling reach beyond the page with a new partnership aimed at bringing its books to life through animation.
The publisher has joined forces with AI-powered animation company Toonstar to develop a slate of animated series based on titles from its catalog. The first project in the collaboration will adapt Lisa Greenwald’s Friendship List, with Harper Alley also set to release a companion graphic novel tied to the series.
The move reflects a growing push within publishing to meet audiences where they are, especially on digital and visual platforms. HarperCollins leadership emphasized that the partnership is part of a broader strategy to explore new formats while staying true to the heart of each story.
“Toonstar’s ability to translate beloved books into engaging animated content, while keeping creators at the center of the process, made them a natural fit,” said HarperCollins U.S. trade CEO and publisher Liate Stehlik. “We’re always looking for ways to connect readers with stories in formats they already love.”
Toonstar’s production approach combines traditional creative input with proprietary technology. Its system, known as Ink & Pixel, uses a generative AI engine trained on commissioned artwork, described as “copyright-clean”—to help streamline animation production while maintaining consistency and quality.
According to Toonstar CEO and co-founder John Attanasio, the goal is to preserve the integrity of the original work while making it accessible to new audiences. “HarperCollins has a catalog filled with stories that have shaped generations,” he said. “We’re excited to bring those stories into a new medium while honoring the authors’ vision.”
The collaboration highlights a larger trend in publishing, where companies are increasingly exploring cross-media adaptations, particularly short-form and animated content, as a way to expand their reach and engage younger, digital-first audiences.
If successful, the partnership could open the door for more HarperCollins titles to be adapted into animated series, blending traditional storytelling with emerging technology in ways that continue to reshape how readers, and viewers, experience books.