'Next Stop Paris' is a new romantic AI film from TCL Studios — and it's so cute you almost forget AI is coming for your job

Next stop paris film
(Image credit: TCL STUDIOS )

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, TCL Studios has unveiled "Next Stop Paris," a romantic AI short film that premiered on February 13, 2025, on the company's streaming platform, TCLtv+. This 12-minute film represents a significant milestone as the first extended project to emerge from TCL's virtual studio and production hub.

We've spent hours testing some of the best AI video generators available, from Luma Labs and Pika to Sora and Showrunner, and none are as sophisticated enough to create a film of this caliber or length.

Gif of scene from Next Stop Paris

(Image credit: TCL Studios)

Director Stuart Acher expressed enthusiasm about the innovative process, stating, "When I was approached to re-envision 'Next Stop Paris,' I saw the opportunity to harness this innovative technology to serve storytelling and found that incredibly empowering as an artist. But as an actor's director, it was also imperative that we preserve the human element. We created two people who fall in love and challenge the world around them, and while you are looking at AI-generated characters, their hair, their bodies, their clothes, and the world — they are grounded in the real, raw performances of talented actors that we filmed. Without that, the tech is just, well, tech."

A look at the future of AI storytelling

TCL Next Stop Paris scene

(Image credit: TCL Studios)

Movie studios of all sizes have already begun integrating AI into their films, with two of the most highly nominated productions at the 2025 Oscars incorporating AI into their creation. For “Next Stop Paris,” TCL Studios employed a hybrid approach, blending live-action footage with advanced AI tools to craft the narrative and its Parisian backdrop. The creative team utilized a suite of technologies, including Midjourney, Runway ML, Nuke, Adobe After Effects, and proprietary tools from TCL's R&D division, to achieve this integration.

Most combined practical video was captured with professional cameras and various AI applications. The environments were imagined using AI, with many complex settings based on 3D models treated with exclusive TCL methodologies.

A culmination of an ambitious eight-month production cycle aimed at developing realistic human characters capable of expressing genuine emotion, over 80 professionals contributed to the project, encompassing roles such as directors, writers, actors, producers, designers, VFX experts, engineers, and graphic artists.

How to watch

Next Stop Paris | Short Film | TCL Studios - YouTube Next Stop Paris | Short Film | TCL Studios - YouTube
Watch On

I watched the short film as a casual viewer and then as an AI expert. I was impressed by the dialogue, the human-like element of the characters, and the natural flow of the story. For me, there wasn't ever a time where I caught a glimpse of "robotic" movements or dialgoue that didn't match the lips moving. The voiceover carried the story, and the AI humor sprinkled throughout the film made it fun to watch. The film delivered in a way that I've never seen before at this type of AI level.

"Next Stop Paris" is now available for streaming on TCLtv+ and YouTube. It will anchor the platform's new Romance O&O Channel just in time for Valentine's Day.

As TCL Studios continues to push the boundaries of technology and storytelling, audiences will surely anticipate more innovative content that blends traditional filmmaking with cutting-edge AI advancements.

More from Tom's Guide

Category
Arrow
Arrow
Back to MacBook Air
Brand
Arrow
Processor
Arrow
RAM
Arrow
Storage Size
Arrow
Screen Size
Arrow
Colour
Arrow
Storage Type
Arrow
Condition
Arrow
Price
Arrow
Any Price
TOPICS
Amanda Caswell
AI Writer

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
OmniHuman screenshot of AI generated video
TikTok parent company just launched stunning AI video generator — OmniHuman-1 is taking the world by storm
Showrunner logo
The 'Netflix of AI' has a waitlist of 50K people — I got in and here's the good and the bad
Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel in Person of Interest
5 shows about AI that will make you freak out a little
Young man on his laptop looking at images and videos
I've spent 200 hours testing the best AI video generators — here's my top picks
Sora
Forget Sora — here's the 5 best AI video alternatives you can try today
Kling v1.6 Roman Soldier
I put Kling 1.6 to the test — 7 prompts to make compelling AI videos
Latest in AI Image & Video
Next stop paris film
'Next Stop Paris' is a new romantic AI film from TCL Studios — and it's so cute you almost forget AI is coming for your job
Showrunner logo
The 'Netflix of AI' has a waitlist of 50K people — I got in and here's the good and the bad
Adobe Firefly Video
Adobe Firefly Video is here to take on Sora with new AI video generator
selfie avatar images
Synthesia just launched the most realistic Selfie Avatars I’ve ever seen — here’s how to try it
MacBook Pro M1 gets Adobe Photoshop
Hurry! Get 70% off Adobe Creative Cloud in this epic Presidents' Day offer
AI video of a man and a tiger
Pika launches 'Pikadditions' to add anything and anyone to any video — here's how
Latest in Features
The outline of a hand holding a phone, wrapped in barbed wire to indicate censorship
What are anti-censorship features and how is Proton VPN leading the way?
Casetify Bounce Suitcase
I ditched my Away Carry-On for a bright red suitcase made by a phone case brand, and I was shocked by how much I liked it
Astell and Kern HB1
I just turned my wired audio headphones into Bluetooth cans with this DAC — and the sound quality is shockingly good
Bare feet poking out of the covers at the end of a bed
Twitching in your sleep? Expert shares 5 most common causes of hypnic jerks
Two people sit on top of the Plank Firm flippable double-sided mattress in a bedroom
I've been using a luxury mattress for a year and my sleep is better than ever — here's why
Half-Life 2 RTX
I just went back to Ravenholm in Half-Life 2 RTX — Nvidia’s new RTX remix tech makes it 10x more terrifying