Disney animators Tom and Tony Bancroft have an unexpected reaction to the controversial AI-generated anime Rock, Paper, Scissors. The video, which was created by Corridor Digital and runs roughly seven minutes long, was animated using a few different AI programs. As the popularity of AI-generated art has exploded online and created ethical concerns, the Rock, Paper, Scissors video has generated a lot of controversy for its use of questionable techniques.
During a recent appearance on the Corridor Crew's Animators React YouTube series, Tom and Tony Bancroft had an unexpected reaction to the Rock, Paper, Scissors anime video.
The veteran animators and directors, who have worked on numerous Disney projects including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Mulan, had an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the AI-generated anime that has caused a lot of controversy. Watch their genuine reactions in the video embedded above, starting at 15:28.
The Rock, Paper, Scissors A.I. Art Controversy Explained
The Rock, Paper, Scissors video was created using an AI model called Stable Diffusion which was trained by using live-action footage of actors in front of a green screen, while the anime art style itself was trained by using Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust as a reference. The end result is visually impressive, exemplified by the Disney animators' astonished reaction, even though it's not perfect, as Bancroft points out that the shadows look like they're underwater. Aside from being visually impressive, this method of training the AI model has also resulted in a lot of controversy and created some ethical concerns.
In order to replicate a certain anime art style, the AI model essentially copies it without consulting with or giving credit to the original artists. Many animators have spoken out about this issue, claiming that AI is essentially stealing their personal styles, and could eventually eliminate the need for human animators. However, as the veteran Disney animators don't seem the least bit concerned, it's unlikely that AI-generated animation will replace standard methods of production, at least for the foreseeable future.
Source: Corridor Crew