The Dog & The Boy: Netflix's Experiment with AI-Generated Artwork Sparks Outrage
In a recent move, Netflix Japan has created an anime short film called "The Dog & The Boy" that uses AI-generated artwork for its background images. The streaming platform claimed that the use of AI technology was a response to the labor shortage in the anime industry. However, the announcement drew instant criticism from fans and artists who felt that the company was using AI to avoid paying human artists.
The short film was created by Netflix Anime Creators Base, a Tokyo-based hub, in collaboration with Rinna Inc., an AI-generated artwork company, and WIT Studio, a production company that produced the first three seasons of Attack on Titan. The trailer for the film showcases painterly and dramatic backdrops of cityscapes and mountain ranges. A sequence in the video credits the background design as "AI + Human," implying that a supervised image generation algorithm was used in conjunction with human input.
The anime industry has been facing labor abuses and low wages for years, with some illustrators earning as little as $200 a month. Despite the industry's success, with a revenue high of $18.4 billion in 2021, top animators still only earn around $1,400 to $3,800 a month.
The use of AI-generated art has become increasingly controversial in recent years, as artists are pushing back against algorithms co-opting their craft and their work being used in AI-generated datasets. In January, a group of artists filed a class-action lawsuit against stability AI, DeviantArt, and Midjourney, claiming that text-to-image tools violated their ownership rights.
As the use of AI in the entertainment industry becomes more prevalent, it remains to be seen how it will impact the livelihoods of artists and the future of traditional art forms. The controversy surrounding Netflix's experiment with AI-generated anime serves as a reminder of the importance of considering the ethical implications of technology and its impact on society.
In conclusion, while the use of AI-generated art may seem like a solution to the labor shortage in the anime industry, it raises important questions about the future of the industry and the role of technology in art creation. Only time will tell how these issues will play out, but for now, it is essential for companies like Netflix to take into account the concerns of artists and fans as they explore new technologies and creative methods.