Fourteenth International Conference on The Image

Abstract

The Animation Projects, “Dissolution” and “Cunabula,” embarked on an exploration of the creative potential of Neural Style Transfer trained with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in both non-narrative and narrative animation filmmaking. The initial objective was to discover novel production methods that would advance artists’ creativity and provide them with greater technical freedom during the production process using AI-trained style transfer. As the project progressed, it became increasingly clear that utilizing the power of AI is not only essential for automating repetitive tasks in animation production but also for actively involving and advancing the unique and unexplored aesthetics of AI-generated images. Consequently, my focus shifted towards utilizing this new form of moving images in a manner that supports and emphasizes the artistic intention and message of my film through sophisticated art direction and interaction with machines. The animation projects, “Dissolution” and “Cunabula,” together demonstrate that artists can gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities and limitations of AI by actively guiding the AI system through art direction, moving beyond mere experimentation with new AI tools or replication of existing AI-generated images and animations. These two animation projects offer insights from my perspective as an animation artist into the creative process of employing AI in independent animation practice, emphasizing how artists can leverage this new technology to enhance their creative process while maintaining their essential role as primary investigators in the evolving landscape of collaboration in the age of AI.