For German startup Phont, subtitles simply aren’t working hard enough, and it is on a mission to make them way more expressive.
With many viewers relying on subtitles and an increase in Gen Z consumers using subtitles out of choice, Phont’s technology uses captions to add layers of expression with the adoption of AI that analyses speech and sound, and maps those signals to parametric typography and motion. The end result is a subtitled presentation that can reflect loudness, tempo, timbre or even a siren in the scene.
Developed from scratch for VoD and live broadcast since July this year, Phont runs up to seven different AI models in the background, all working live.
Paul Leo Langendörfer, Co-founder and CEO, Phont, said: “I watch mostly Netflix and a lot of English content, so it helps me to use the subtitles and I always wondered why such well-produced shows have subtitles with a white font on a black box. It could be so much more. It could be fun.”
The company’s patent-pending method underpins both Phont Studio for creators and a Phont Stage for platforms, enabling consistent brand styling and accessibility without manual post-production.
Stand Number: 8.B30g
Company: Phont
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