In a recent interview last week, Goro Miyazaki, the 58-year-old son of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki and current managing director of Studio Ghibli, made a striking prediction about the future of animation. He stated, acknowledging the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in the creative industry,
“It wouldn’t be surprising if, in two years’ time, there was a film made completely through AI“
AI’s Growing Influence on Animation
The conversation around AI in animation has intensified recently as ChatGPT’s new image generator floods the internet with pictures imitating Studio Ghibli’s distinctive whimsical style. This trend has sparked fresh debates over potential copyright infringements and the future of hand-drawn animation.
While Studio Ghibli has not directly commented on this image trend, Goro Miyazaki’s statements suggest the studio is well aware of AI’s potential impact. The director believes that artificial intelligence could eventually replace animators, fundamentally changing how animated films are created.
Despite his prediction about AI-generated films, Goro added a crucial caveat:
“Whether audiences would want to watch a fully AI-generated animation is another matter”.
He also noted that despite the rapid changes, new technology brings
“Great potential for unexpected talent to emerge”.
Father and Son: Contrasting Views on AI
While Goro Miyazaki appears to take a measured approach to AI’s potential, his father Hayao Miyazaki has expressed much stronger opinions. In a now-viral video, the Studio Ghibli co-founder was shown an AI-generated animation of a zombie-like creature and responded with unfiltered disgust.
“I am utterly disgusted“
Hayao Miyazaki declared after viewing the AI creation.
“If you really want to make creepy stuff, you can go ahead and do it, but I would never wish to incorporate this technology into my work at all. I strongly feel that this is an insult to life itself”.
The elder Miyazaki’s criticism stemmed from a deeply human perspective. He explained,
“Every morning, not in recent days, I see my friend who has a disability. It’s so hard for him just to do a high five; his arm with stiff muscle can’t reach out to my hand.
Now, thinking of him, I can’t watch this stuff and find it interesting. Whoever creates this stuff has no idea what pain is”
The Irreplaceable Human Element
Despite his prediction about AI-generated films, Goro Miyazaki maintains that some things cannot be replicated by technology. Specifically, he believes nothing can replace his father Hayao Miyazaki, the creative force behind classics such as “Spirited Away,” “My Neighbor Totoro,” and “Howl’s Moving Castle”.
These beloved films are famous for their lush natural settings and fantastical machinery, all painstakingly drawn by hand. This human touch, according to the younger Miyazaki, carries a depth that AI simply cannot replicate.
Hayao Miyazaki concluded his thoughts on AI with a sobering observation,
“I feel like we are nearing the end of times. We humans are losing faith in ourselves”
This stark contrast between father and son highlights the complex relationship between traditional animation and emerging technologies as the industry continues to evolve.
