After the huge success of FaceApp, the app that allowed us to see how old we are in just a few taps, the app that turns us into cartoons is now empty.
There will surely be many who have tried to turn us into cartoon avatars, from our first Yahoo Messenger avatar, to Bitmoji stickers. There is something we find deeply compelling about seeing ourselves portrayed in cartoon form, as if cartoons have the power to capture our core essence into a more playful version of ourselves.
Voila AI Artist is an app that appeared out of nowhere, and its creations have multiplied in our Facebook feed, even reaching Instagram and WhatsApp.
The app starts with a photo of your face and plays it with three different animation styles to choose from, complete with shading. Disney seems to be the most popular style. In addition to the cartoon version, it is also possible to see us through the eyes of Renaissance painters or create a caricature.
The service is free for iPhone and Android devices, with an excellent ad-free option as well. Downloading the app and creating your first animated grid will take a maximum of five minutes. Here’s how to do it and what you need to know.
- Download Voila AI Artist for iPhone or Android and launch the app. It will ask for permission to use your phone’s camera roll.
- Choose from four styles: Cartoon 3D, Renaissance, Cartoon 2D, and Caricature. Press the arrow to start.
- The camera roll will open. Select the photo you want to use or tap the camera or a celebrity at the bottom of the screen to take a new photo or search for a celebrity. This generates a grid of four options. In the free version, expect to see one or two ads that stop watching.
- You will now see four options: Your original image as well as the three animations and all three shows (3D Kings, 3D Babies, and 3D Animators). You can take a screenshot from here and crop it, or select one of the four options and tap the edit button (up arrow on Android) to share it instantly on Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp, or to send an email, save or share via other options (when you press more) .
To remove the watermark, speed up the rendering process, and remove the ads that appear every time they are shown, you can upgrade to the Voila Pro version for $2 per week, $4 per month, or $21 per year.
What doesn’t work well with Voila AI Artist
- Non-human subjects, such as dogs or cats, cannot be depicted;
- The app only recognizes images with clearly visible faces. It is not certain that the image can change if you wear a mask over your mouth, for example;
- Photos with severed heads often work, but the app is filled with a strange aura
How does Voila AI Artist use your data? Look at the privacy policy.
From what we can tell, although the app’s parent company claims that it will delete your photos within 24 to 48 hours after the last photo use, The app collects personally identifiable information about you, your phone, and your online activity.
This personal data is then shared with third-party partners and advertisers in countries outside your country, including advertisers who may track your web activity. The app then discloses this personal information to any of its affiliates or subcontractors.
According to the privacy policy of the WeImagine.AI app owner: “When you use the free version of the app, we work with advertising partners to serve ads within the app. These ads are delivered by our advertising partners and may be targeted based on your use of the app or your activity elsewhere via Internet “.
