NaukNauk raises $20M to build the platform for adults who share life through fandom, not filters

DOVER, Del., June 2026 — Nostalgia has become a cultural identity, and the “kidult” community is growing quickly. Jellycats adorn office desks, David Beckham shares his LEGO collection online, Disneyland is a top destination for adults without children, Taylor Swift sparked a bead bracelet trend, and Dungeons and Dragons is a favorite weekend activity. The fun, community, and stress relief that toys provide have become important aspects of life and self-expression.

Emerging from a stealth beta that attracted more than one million users, NaukNauk publicly launches its social app that brings your collectibles and fandoms to life with AI. The toy market for adults reached $43 billion in 2026. However, the massive growth of this segment has left many communities scattered across different social media platforms. NaukNauk creates a community to engage, create, and connect across fandoms. For the first time, AI puts the power of animation in anyone's hands, turning a single photo into a shareable story and a new way for people to share their lives online.

The company has recently raised $20M in venture capital to advance its vision of establishing a creative community that celebrates the fandoms and collectibles people love. The funding drives the goal of building an AI-first social network to connect fandoms with shared passions. Built by kidults with the community in mind, NaukNauk brings together toy lovers and hobbyists, bringing their visions and creative expression to life.

Users share these whimsical, silly, and epic videos on the app to bring smiles and inspiration to other members. The community can like, comment, and even “Nauk” a clip, using their own creativity to remix and rework the video. If a user isn’t sure where to start, they can discover videos on a For You page or browse by a wide range of themes and fandoms, including Star Wars, Plushies, Bricks, Marvel, Warhammer, and many more.

NaukNauk animates your favorite toys in a variety of ways:

• Image to story: Upload a single photo of a favorite toy or handmade creation and watch your toys come to life in a multishot story with a complete narrative arc.

• Frame flow: Upload two photos to serve as the start and end frames of the video, add a prompt (or let NaukNauk take the reins), and enjoy a video that fills in the story between the two photos. 

• Image to music video: Use a single image to create a video of your toy singing and dancing to your favorite song, up to 60 seconds long.

• Bring images to life: Upload a photo, add a prompt, and watch your toys come to life in a single clip.

• Image to comics: Choose an image and create a four-panel comic strip with your toy as the hero.

• Choose a template: Pick from a variety of templates, like epic action scenes and trending dances, to animate your toy in a one-of-a-kind video. 

“This site is bringing much joy to me and my children, especially my son, who is autistic,” shares user Sharon Rogers. “It's proven to be such a calming site for him to be a part of with me.”

"It's the childhood dream of bringing toys to life," explains Liam Craig, another user. "Making little stories up is a great way for me to unwind from a busy day at work." 

“There are massive communities of adults who never stopped loving their toys, fandoms, and collections, and the tech industry has looked right past them,” shares Daniel Liu, Co-Founder of NaukNauk. "While so much of AI right now is about replacing what people do, we wanted to build something that brings people closer to what they love and to each other. It's been incredible to see NaukNauk become a place where imagination shapes everyday life."

Try NaukNauk for free by downloading the app on the App Store or Google Play.