(MENAFN- EIN Presswire) EINPresswire/ -- Grumpy Frenchie , the adorable yet unapologetically sassy smart charger and AI assistant from creative studio Black Rainbow, is live on Kickstarter and a breakout global crowdfunding success story having already raised over 175% of their initial raise goal.


In a world filled with sleek, faceless technology, everyday devices have become functional but soulless. Grumpy Frenchie breaks the mold by combining collectible art toy design with cutting-edge AI technology-transforming the simple act of charging a phone into a fun, expressive, and unexpectedly emotional experience. With a lifelike personality, reactive animations, and full AI assistant capabilities, Grumpy Frenchie is equal parts art, utility, and attitude.

“The original idea emerged over 12 years ago. At the time, collectible art toys like the Dunny were popping up everywhere, and iPhone docks were the new tech accessory. I started imagining-what if the dock was the body of a character, and the phone was its face?” says co-founder and creative director Iva Ilieva on the inspiration behind the project.“The app could make it interactive. It felt genius. I made prototypes out of cardboard and 3D prints but never had the means to bring it to life. Then one day I realized-no one had ever done it. Either I'm completely out of touch or I'm a genius. Time will tell.”


Key Features of Grumpy Frenchie:


. Expressive, Collectible Design - A grumpy French Bulldog brought to life through detailed sculpting and animation, designed to sit proudly on any desk.

. Smart Charger Functionality - Fast, stable magnetic charging with optimal viewing angles for both portrait and landscape modes.

. AI Assistant with Personality - Search the web, manage calendars, fetch weather, translate languages, and more - all with attitude and humor.

. Reactive & Connected - IFTTT integration lets Grumpy Frenchie respond to events in the digital or physical world, from email alerts to home security triggers.

. Customizable Looks & Behavior - Change colors, add digital accessories, select voice options, and even adjust“grumpiness level.” (Fair warning: the uncensored mode has bite.)

. A Living IP - Built as a platform for evolving personality, downloadable content, and new interactive features over time.


After several early prototypes and years of refinement, the project took on deeper meaning when the creator's own French Bulldog passed away; inspiring the final character's design and personality.

“With Grumpy Frenchie, we wanted to create a highly capable AI assistant-but with a fun twist. By embodying the AI in a sassy French Bulldog (the most popular dog breed in the U.S.), it becomes far more engaging and entertaining to interact with, while also fostering a different kind of relationship-more like a pet or companion than a friend or partner. You also approach it with different expectations; if a grumpy Frenchie hallucinates or tells someone to jump out a window, the reaction is very different than if it came from a human-sounding AI,” adds Ilieva.

Grumpy Frenchie is currently live and available to support on Kickstarter:

About Black Rainbow, LLC

Black Rainbow, Founded in 2018, is a creative and technology studio based in Los Angeles specializing in designing and developing interactive products at the cutting edge of art and technology.


For more information on Black Rainbow, please visit weareblackrainbow

###

MENAFN15102025003118003196ID1110200612