Netflix recently released a new anime short called “The Dog & The Boy,” but its creation process has sparked controversy. According to digital media outlet Vice, Netflix employed artificial intelligence (AI) to finish the short due to a lack of animation staff.
Controversy over AI-generated images
Netflix’s use of AI in its latest short has raised concerns among critics, who argue that the decision was driven more by cost savings than a genuine shortage of animators. As AI-based image creation tools continue to proliferate, illustrators and graphic artists have been among the first to express concern about the potential impact on their industry.
In response to the criticism, Netflix posted a tweet explaining their decision to use AI in “The Dog & The Boy.” The tweet, translated automatically, reads:
“A short film from the joint animation project ‘Dog and Boy’ by Netflix Anime Creators Base, technology developer rinna Inc. and WIT STUDIO. As an experimental effort to help the anime industry, which is short of manpower, image generation technology is used for the background image of all 3-minute clips of video!”
Although the entire anime short wasn’t created using AI, the video accompanying Netflix’s tweet showcases a background featuring snowy roads, which was designed by AI with some human collaboration. This particular image is credited to a designer with the initials IA, and a parenthetical note acknowledges the human input.
So far, Netflix has not provided further comments on the issue. As the debate around AI’s role in creative industries continues, it remains to be seen how the streaming giant will approach the use of AI in future projects.
For those interested in exploring Netflix’s other offerings, learn how to request specific series and movies, or activate spatial audio to enhance your viewing experience with optimal sound quality.
