GMA Network’s digital arm GMA New Media, Inc. (NMI) continues to redefine the digital landscape through its NMI Studios. With expertise spanning video production, animation, digital storytelling, immersive experiences, and generative AI, NMI Studios captivates audiences with cutting-edge technology with creative storytelling.
NMI Studios started as the technocreative team of GMA New Media, Inc. that pioneered the use of Augmented Reality as early as 2010, with collaborations with Top Gear Philippines and Preview. From here, NMI Studios made further digital headways by utilizing AR filters in more recent projects such as GMA Network’s Eleksyon 2022 coverage on Instagram and the GMA Prime series “Lolong” and “Lolong: Bayani ng Bayan.”
“For over 20 years, we’ve been telling stories that change the way people connect with content,” says Vice President for Creatives and Head of NMI Studios Ramil Escarda. “We focus on creating narratives that not only fit our client’s brand but also genuinely resonate with today’s audiences, making a real difference in how their message comes across.”
By creating impactful content that highlights animation, digital storytelling, generative AI, immersive experiences, and cutting-edge technology, further projects by NMI Studios garnered significant acclaim in the country and abroad. The BPI x GMA anti-scam advocacy “Maging Listo, Huwag Magpaloko” (Be Vigilant, Don’t Be Deceived) won at the 2024 Anvil Awards and made history as the sole Philippine awardee under the Informational Films and Explanatory Videos category at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV awards in 2023.
Partnerships with GMA Sports, meanwhile, further pushed the boundaries of digital and technological innovation, such as the introduction of the country’s first AI sportscasters Marco and Maia. Unveiled during the coverage of NCAA Season 99, it earned NMI Studios the Technology Animation – Philippines award at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting + Awards 2024.
NMI Studios continues its upward trajectory in the digital space by further diversifying its content offerings to netizens through its two distinct YouTube Channels, Kubo House and “Stories from the Dark.”
Kubo House brings Filipino culture closer to preschool children. Through 3D animated nursery rhymes and Filipino folk songs, digital storytelling gets a fresh, fun spin that engages its young audience. It is home to the original animated series Hiwaga, a colorful collection of AI-based fairy tales. One of its popular titles, “The Space Between,” was a semi-finalist at the AniMate Australia Animation Festival 2024.
“Stories from the Dark,” on the other hand, gives fans of thrillers and horror movies spine-tingling short videos that blend innovative technology with creative execution. “Patient No. 40,” one of its featured short videos, was a finalist at the AI Horror Film Contest 2024, hosted by Curious Refuge, an online school and creative community based in California that specializes in AI-powered storytelling.
NMI Studios underscores GMA Network’s commitment to innovation. With the constantly evolving preferences of audiences online, it will continue to provide engaging content, further strengthening its position as a leader in the digital space by pushing the boundaries of digital content creation.
For more information regarding NMI Studios’ projects and initiatives, visit https://www.gmanmi.com. To watch colorful, eye-catching content highlighting Filipino culture, visit Kubo House at https://www.youtube.com/@KuboHouse. Fans of horror and chilling stories can visit Stories from the Dark at https://www.youtube.com/@StoriesFromTheDark2024.
