Shai
AI pre-production for film and advertising — script to storyboard in seconds
- Category
- Video Generation
- Pricing
- Not publicly disclosed; platform access is currently via waitlist/early access, no self-serve pricing page
- Best for
- Shai is best suited for advertising agencies, production companies, and independent filmmakers who need to move fast from script to a visual, shareable pre-production package — especially teams that currently rely on manual storyboard artists or loose spreadsheets for shot lists and scheduling.
- Official site
- shaicreative.ai
- Last updated
- August 2026
Shai (legal entity Shai Creative Technologies B.V.) is an Amsterdam-based startup, founded in 2023, building what it markets as the first AI platform purpose-built for pre-production in film and advertising. Instead of general-purpose image or video generation, Shai focuses narrowly on the pre-production pipeline: a user uploads a script or creative brief, and the platform automatically segments it into scenes, generates AI storyboard imagery for each scene, extracts a structured shot list (shot type, angle, subject, timing), and can stitch the storyboard frames into a rough video animatic to preview pacing and tone. It positions itself against both traditional storyboard artists/software (e.g., Boords) and adjacent AI video pre-production tools (e.g., LTX Studio, story-boards.ai).
Shai's core differentiator is breadth rather than depth in any single output: rather than just generating pretty concept art, it tries to own the whole planning workflow — storyboard, shot list, and shoot schedule — as one editable, AI-adjustable system, so changes to the script automatically propagate through the shot list and schedule. The company emphasizes that outputs are editable and owned by the user (uploadable images, adjustable breakdowns), positioning Shai as an assistant layered on top of a creative's own production style rather than a black-box generator.
Shai is best suited for advertising agencies, production companies, and independent filmmakers who need to move fast from script to a visual, shareable pre-production package — especially teams that currently rely on manual storyboard artists or loose spreadsheets for shot lists and scheduling. It's less suited to teams that need a specific hand-illustrated storyboard style, need transparent self-serve pricing to budget in advance, or want a mature product with a large, independently verifiable review base — for those cases, an established storyboard tool like Boords or a hired illustrator may be a safer choice.
Key features
Script-to-storyboard conversion
Upload a script or creative document (PDF, Word, Final Draft) and Shai automatically breaks it into scenes, generating AI storyboard images for each one.
AI-driven shot list management
Extracts shot-level detail (shot type, angle, subject, cast, location, timing) into a single editable table that stays in sync as the script changes.
AI-optimized shoot planning
Builds and reorganizes a shoot schedule based on the script, readjusting automatically as scenes or shots are edited.
Video animatics
Converts the generated storyboard images into a video animatic with transitions, letting teams preview timing and emotional flow before shooting.
Editable, user-owned outputs
Users can upload their own images, tweak the script breakdown, and adjust plans — Shai positions itself as an assistant layered onto the user's own creative process, not a fixed generator.
No-code, no-prompting workflow
Designed to require no prompting expertise; a plain script or document upload is enough to generate a first-pass storyboard, shot list, and schedule.
Try-before-signup preview
Users can upload a script and get the first 10 storyboard scenes, first 10 shots, and first 2 days of planning generated before committing further.
Confidential, secure processing
Vendor states creative material is processed under privacy and confidentiality protections given the sensitivity of unreleased scripts and campaigns.
Pricing breakdown
Waitlist / Early Access
- Full script-to-storyboard workflow
- Shot list generation
- Shoot planning tool
- Video animatics
Pros and cons
Pros
- Consolidates three separate pre-production tasks (storyboarding, shot listing, scheduling) into one tool instead of juggling separate software or spreadsheets.
- G2 reviewers specifically praise the speed of going from a raw script to a usable storyboard, and note the AI holds reasonable character consistency across generated scenes.
- Supports common script formats (PDF, Word, Final Draft) rather than requiring reformatting before upload.
- Changes to the script or shot list propagate through the rest of the plan automatically, reducing manual re-syncing between storyboard, shot list, and schedule.
- Free look via partial generation (first 10 scenes/shots, 2 days of planning) lets teams evaluate output quality before any commercial commitment.
- Founded team is squarely focused on the pre-production niche rather than being a general-purpose AI video/image generator retrofitted for this use case.
Cons
- No public pricing page or tiers exist as of this research; buyers must go through a waitlist or sales conversation, which slows evaluation for small teams and freelancers.
- Review volume is thin (13 G2 reviews), so claims about reliability and output quality at scale are hard to independently verify.
- At least one G2 reviewer reported login timeouts and felt the platform limited experimentation compared to more open-ended creative tools.
- As an AI-image-based storyboard tool, output is still generated art rather than a human illustrator's interpretation, which may not suit productions requiring a specific hand-drawn or highly stylized look.
- Being a small, VC-stage startup (founded 2023), long-term platform continuity and feature roadmap stability carry more risk than an established incumbent.
What reviewers say
Shai's G2 reviews (76% five-star, 15% four-star, none below three-star as of this research) are consistently positive about the speed of turning a script into a usable storyboard and shot list. The review base is small and several reviews are G2-invite/incentivized, so read the enthusiasm with that context in mind.
Frequently praised
- Fast script-to-storyboard turnaround that cuts manual drawing time
- Clean, polished visual output that supports rather than distracts from the creative
- Feels like a practical creative collaborator rather than a generic AI generator
Frequently criticized
- Login timeouts reported by at least one reviewer
- Limited room for open-ended experimentation compared to more flexible tools
- Small review sample makes broader reliability claims hard to confirm
Alternatives to Shai
Runway
Generative video and editing suite for creators
Compare →Synthesia
AI avatar videos for training and corporate content
Compare →HeyGen
AI avatar and localization tool for marketing video
Compare →Kling AI
AI video generator known for realistic motion
Compare →RepliQ
Personalized video, image, and text outreach at scale
Compare →Frequently asked questions
How much does Shai cost?
Shai does not publish pricing publicly. The official site offers only a waitlist signup, and G2's own pricing page confirms pricing information is not listed by the vendor — prospective buyers need to contact Shai directly.
What file formats can I upload to generate a storyboard?
Shai accepts scripts and creative documents in PDF, Word, and Final Draft formats.
Does Shai generate actual video, or just storyboard images?
Both — it generates AI storyboard images per scene, and can also stitch those into a video animatic with transitions to preview pacing and tone, though this is a rough preview rather than finished production footage.
Can I edit the AI-generated storyboard and shot list?
Yes. Users can upload their own images, adjust the script breakdown, and edit the shot list and shoot plan; Shai is designed as an editable assistant rather than a fixed output generator.
Is Shai only for advertising, or also for films?
Both — the platform is explicitly positioned for pre-production on both movies and advertising campaigns.
Who is behind Shai?
Shai is built by Shai Creative Technologies B.V., a company founded in 2023 and based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Ready to try Shai?
Head to the official site to explore pricing and start a free trial where available.
Visit Shai →