Studio Jadu Debuts Supernatural Thriller Series ‘The Sentinels’ with a Three-Episode Halloween Special
Studio Jadu, an AI-powered, creator-first animation studio backed by Khosla Ventures, has announced the premiere of The Sentinels—a chilling supernatural thriller created by bestselling horror author Ajinkya Bhasme.
Launching on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. PT, the series makes its official debut on Studio Jadu’s YouTube channel with a continuous three-episode event titled “Greed, Betrayal, and Death on North Sentinel Island.”
Ahead of the premiere, Studio Jadu will host a live JaduCast at 8:00 a.m. PT. Hosted by industry veteran Nate Olson (formerly of Frederator Networks), the livestream will feature series directors Nitin Burli and Sree Lakshmi breaking down the creative decisions and production process for fellow animators and filmmakers.
A Supernatural Mystery on a Forbidden Island
Set in the Andaman Sea during Christmas 2004, The Sentinels follows a group of strangers who board a small ferry for an illegal expedition toward the isolated North Sentinel Island. Before arriving, their captain, Nishi, issues two absolute rules: never light a fire, and never interact with anything on the island.
When a strange red mist begins unearthing the passengers’ deeply buried memories, the expedition turns deadly. After one traveler breaks a rule, the ferry is destroyed, leaving the survivors stranded between the island’s Sentinelese inhabitants, a hostile jungle, and an ancient supernatural entity that feeds on fear and guilt.
At the core of the story is Shuki, a photographer haunted by a tragic death in her past. Her camera captures details invisible to the naked eye, offering a potential lifeline as the survivors confront their darkest secrets.
“As a horror author, mood and atmosphere are everything,” said creator Ajinkya Bhasme. “Collaborating with Studio Jadu allowed us to bring the visceral dread of my writing into a striking visual medium. Seeing artists use AIDA to push creative boundaries without losing that human emotional core was truly thrilling.”
The Technology: An Artist-Led Approach to AI Animation
The Sentinels was produced using AIDA, Studio Jadu’s proprietary production workbench. Supervised by Ruchir Joshi, a core team of nine artists directed the series’ story, production design, and performances—utilizing AI strictly as a tool to amplify, rather than replace, human artistry.
“The Sentinels is an important step forward for us at Studio Jadu because it validates that artists can deliver a clear sense of authorship on the creation while using these new-age tools,” said Masoud Loghmani, founder and CEO of Studio Jadu.
