Studio executives have provided animators with plenty of reasons for concern, especially after DreamWorks cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg made headlines last year by suggesting that AI could potentially eliminate 90 percent of the jobs involved in creating animated films. (Source: Image by RR)

As AI Infiltrates Animation, Artists Mobilize to Protect their Livelihoods

Mike Rianda, the director of The Mitchells vs. the Machines, is finding life imitating art as he prepares to fight against the encroachment of AI in the animation industry. His film, a sci-fi comedy about a family battling AI, now mirrors the reality faced by animators who fear that their jobs are at risk due to the growing use of AI in Hollywood. With major animation studios like Netflix and Disney exploring AI’s potential to automate tasks traditionally performed by artists, animators like Rianda see the upcoming negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers as a critical battle for their professional survival.

The animation industry is particularly vulnerable to AI, with fears that the technology could replace jobs at every stage of production, from storyboarding to voice acting. High-profile industry figures like DreamWorks cofounder Jeffrey Katzenberg have suggested that AI could drastically reduce the number of jobs needed to create animated features. As noted in wired.com, the sense of urgency among animators is heightened by recent comments from executives at Netflix, who have expressed enthusiasm for AI as a tool to streamline content creation. Rianda, a vocal advocate for protecting artists’ jobs, is urging his colleagues to push back against these trends, emphasizing that AI could fundamentally reshape the industry if left unchecked.

The Animation Guild, where Rianda is an active member, has been preparing for this fight by studying AI’s impact on jobs and forming a task force dedicated to addressing these challenges. The guild recently held a large rally in Burbank, where animators and industry figures gathered to voice their concerns and demand stronger protections against AI. The event highlighted the growing sense of solidarity among animators, who see themselves as the underdogs in a battle against powerful studios and the potential dehumanization of their craft.

Rianda, who has long been concerned about the rise of automation, believes that AI is being used for the wrong reasons by corporations focused on profit rather than the creative process. He argues that while AI has the potential to solve significant global challenges, its current use in the entertainment industry is threatening to erode the livelihoods of thousands of creative workers. As the fight against AI in animation intensifies, Rianda is determined to ensure that the technology is used responsibly and that artists remain at the heart of the creative process.

read more at wired.com