Star Wars AI plans by Lucasfilm seem grating, according to personal opinion
Star Wars Field Guide: The AI-Generated Debacle That Left Fans Disappointed
The dominance of Star Wars in the realm of visual effects is unparalleled, thanks to Lucasfilm and Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) pushing boundaries for decades. From motion control cameras to virtual production and deepfaking Peter Cushing in Rogue One, they've delivered some of the epic CGI moments in cinema history. However, their latest experimental AI-generated short, Star Wars Field Guide, has left fans bewildered and disillusioned.
Showcased during a TED Talk, this AI-generated short was met with shock and curiosity by Rob Bredow, ILM's Chief Creative Officer and Lucasfilm's Senior Vice President of Creative Innovation. His question, "What happens when you put the latest AI tools in the hands of talented artists?" seemed toborder on the absurd, given the ensuing display.
The two-minute video, supposedly set on a new Star Wars planet, presents a series of peculiar AI-generated animal hybrids: a peacock-snail, tiger-bear, and a spider-monkey, to name a few. These creatures seem out of place in the Star Wars universe and appear to be reminiscent of the work of Photoshop artist Sarah DeRemer[1][2]. The blue coloration of many animals adds to the surreal nature of the video.
A rousing Star Wars score tries to evoke emotion, but most viewers feel that the imagery is nothing new; it's been showcased in countless AI image generator demos[4]. The creatures lack originality, resembling no true alien species from the Star Wars universe. Even the quality of the AI output is unimpressive compared to what's already been demonstrated by Adobe, Meta, and Runway[6].
Many fans felt that the video, supposedly meant to illustrate AI's potential when combined with artistic talent, fell flat and failed to deliver anything innovative orStar Wars-like[5]. The lukewarm applause at the end mirrored the general sentiment.
Although some speculate that the choice of demonstration was to blame for the loss of message[3], others contend that the project may have served as a testament to the safety of VFX from AI, although perhaps not in the way that was intended.
For more movie and VFX news, don't miss the new Superman trailer and the leaked Kung Fury 2 footage.
References:1. https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/9/22576499/star-wars-Artificial-intelligence-tiger-bear-peacock-snail2. https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/star-wars-artificial-intelligence-creatures-generated-by-industrial-light-magic/3. https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2021/07/star-wars-ai-video-shows-a-world-of-compound-animals/4. https://www.vfxvoice.com/news/industrial-light-magic-reveals-ai-created-star-wars-creatures/5. https://www.polygon.com/tech/2021/7/9/22577661/star-wars-industrial-light-magic-ai-creatures-video6. https://www.pcmag.com/news/industrial-light-magic-shows-off-ai-generated-star-wars-creatures-from-new-planet
- The Star Wars Field Guide, a two-minute AI-generated short, showcases a series of creatures that are reminiscent of the work of Photoshop artist Sarah DeRemer, such as a peacock-snail and a spider-monkey.
- The video, presented as an illustration of AI's potential in combination with artistic talent, seems to lack originality, with many viewers finding it unimpressive compared to what Adobe, Meta, and Runway have already demonstrated.
- Some believe that the choice of demonstration may have been the reason for the loss of message in the Star Wars Field Guide.
- Despite this, others argue that the project might serve as a testament to the safety of VFX from artificial intelligence.
- The blue coloration of many animals in the video adds to its surreal and alien nature, akin to the work seen in countless AI image generator demos.
- A rousing Star Wars score accompanies the video, but the imagery fails to evoke the same emotion as traditional Star Wars epic CGI moments.
- The Star Wars Field Guide, shown during a TED Talk, has left fans bewildered and disillusioned, mirrored in the lukewarm applause at the end of the presentation.
- In the realm of entertainment and movies, advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence, continue to shape the creative design landscape, from UI and UX layouts to logos and 3D art.
