By Michaela Gordoni
The animation industry is divided on how to incorporate AI-powered tools into its workflow.
Animation is important for studios and streamers, as both adults and kids are attracted to it, Variety reports.
Anime fans are the most likely to be frequent moviegoers, per Luminate’s U.S. Entertainment 365 survey. Fans are also among the largest number of streaming subscribers. The survey reported 29% of audiences have seen three or more anime movies in theaters in the last three months.
It also compared anime to other genres and found that it topped all of them.
But the use of generative AI in the animation world is “divisive,” to put it simply.
Related: Animation Guild Calls for AI Protections in Contract Negotiations
Generative AI consists of tools like advanced algorithms that can create original images, text, video and sound. The tools can generate advanced character movements, fill in the frames between keyframes, rig characters and assist with lighting simulations and background creation, per video marketing company Spiel.
Proponents see animation AI tools as an advantage that can accelerate production and reduce costs, whereas others see them as a loss of originality. It also presents legal and ethical issues as concerns rise regarding data scraping, IP rights and job security.
Luminate estimated that the most impacted animation roles in the next two years will be storyboard artists, VFX artists and game developers.
Vidu AI, a generative video platform developed by Chinese AI firm ShengShu Technology, is creating an AI-generated sci-fi anime series with Los Angeles-based studio Aura Productions. It’s a short-form series for social media platforms and consists of 50 episodes.
“AI is not a constraint on creativity but an enabler of new creative possibilities,” said Evan Liao, the head of Vido and ShengShu.
Maurice Galway, Animation Dingle’s director and co-founder, said last year, “There are a lot of young people I’ve heard from, and they don’t like the idea of [AI], but it’s not that it’s going to change. We’re not going back, so people will likely have to learn to use it as part of their work.”
Some proponents point out that the animation industry will not go backwards, and it’s best to adapt and use the new tools. However, many are still concerned about its ethics.
“If you’re in the business of creating copyright, you also have to be in the business of respecting other people’s copyright,” said Cathal Gaffney, managing director of Brown Bag Films. “And I think a lot of the generative AI that’s trained on older [artists’ and studios’] copyright is no different than a studio using pirated software.”
“Automation isn’t going away anytime soon,” Gaffney added. “How we use it is going to change, but we shouldn’t cannibalize ourselves and disrespect other people’s copyright.”
So it may not be a question of “if” AI will reshape the animation industry, but “how.”
Read Next: AI, Anime to Dominate Kids’ Entertainment, Analysts Report
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