When Studio Ghibli’s Co-Founder Described AI Animation as a Disgrace to Life

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When Studio Ghibli’s Co-Founder Described AI Animation as a Disgrace to Life



Hayao Miyazaki

HIGHLIGHTS

Social media is buzzing with Ghibli-style artwork created by AI.

A 2016 video featuring Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, has gained renewed attention.

In the footage, Miyazaki vocally denounces AI-generated animation, labeling it as “an affront to life itself.”

These days, if you’ve been keeping up with social media, you might have come across an influx of AI artwork that bears a striking resemblance to the iconic Studio Ghibli style. The recent update by OpenAI has ignited a creative revolution, prompting users to share exquisite AI-generated visuals online, all echoing the beloved visuals of Ghibli’s artistry.

Yet, nestled within this surge of AI creativity, an archived clip dating back to 2016 featuring Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary co-founder of Studio Ghibli, has resurfaced on various platforms. In this poignant video, Miyazaki takes a firm stance against AI-generated animations, calling them “an insult to life itself.”

For further insight, check out this in-depth article: Studio Ghibli AI images take over the internet: What is the buzz all about?

The clip showcases Miyazaki alongside Toshio Suzuki, a producer at Studio Ghibli, reacting to a presentation of AI-generated animation. The particular animation in question depicted a zombie-like character engaged in movements that appeared unnatural. A presenter attempted to frame the animation positively, stating, “It looks like it’s dancing. Its head is leading the motion, and it feels neither pain nor the need to protect itself. It’s almost as if it uses its head like a leg. While it may be creepy, this could complement a zombie video game. AI has the potential to showcase grotesque movements that are beyond human imagination.”

However, Miyazaki’s response was one of visible disapproval. He further stressed that the animation reminded him of a friend with a disability who faces difficulties in movement, emphasizing how he found the embodiment of AI-generated motion more unsettling than revolutionary.

Moreover, if you’re interested in creating Ghibli-style portraits without a cost, you might want to read: How to make Ghibli-style portraits for free.

Addressing the disturbing portrayal, Miyazaki conveyed his strong feelings about the work: “I can’t watch this stuff and find it interesting. Whoever creates this lacks any understanding of pain. I’m utterly disgusted. If your goal is to create creepy content, go ahead, but I would never incorporate this technology into my art. It’s a deep insult to life itself.”

In response, one of the developers tried to downplay the severity of the situation, stating, “This is merely an experiment, and we don’t aim to make a significant impact by showcasing it.” Suzuki, present during the discussion, inquired about the developers’ intentions, to which they confessed their ultimate aspiration was to create a machine capable of drawing akin to human artists.

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