Why AI will NOT be taking Your Animation job
Howto & Style
Introduction
[Music]
Hey everybody, Aaron Blaze here, and let me start by setting up a little story for you. Imagine the Arctic, it's cold, windy, and empty. And wandering this landscape is a polar bear. He's wandering the Arctic looking for a friend. He comes across various animals, like a fox, and he's happy and wants to make friends so badly, but no one wants to be friends with him. At his lowest point, he decides, well, if I can't find a friend, then I'll make a friend literally. And he starts gathering up snow and puts together a snow bear. And out of this, he finds all kinds of joy, and they have fun together. Our polar bear has found his friend.
So the story I just pitched to you is the new short that I'm creating called "Snow Bear." The reason I pitched it to you is I wanted you to feel the emotions that I'm going to be trying to get onto the screen through this character. And that's the key to everything that I'm talking about today. It's getting the emotion, getting the wants and needs, joys and everything else into the character. And that's something that's uniquely human. It takes a human in order to do it. Whether you're doing stop motion, CGI, or hand-drawn animation, it's our job as animators to impart life into our characters. And the only way to get life into them is to give them wants and needs and emotions.
The art of animation is not just moving something on the screen, and I think that's something that people are forgetting. Good character animation is bringing that character to life. It's giving them hopes and joys and everything else so that when the viewer is watching that character on the screen, they're forgetting that they're looking at a puppet or they're forgetting that they're looking at a drawing. They're invested, they're feeling the emotion, they're empathizing. And that's what good storytelling and good character animation do for the viewer.
And it's also why I don't think AI is going to be coming along and taking my job as an animator anytime soon because it is so distinctly human. It takes a human to get those emotions and experiences onto the screen.
Now, let me show you how technology has advanced and changed the animation process in the last 35 years. I still sit and draw, but the process has become streamlined. On my website, creatureartteacher.com, I share over 600 hours of art and animation content and live stream the making of "Snow Bear." This short shot I'm about to show you demonstrates the evolution of the animation process.
This shot features the polar bear diving into the water. First, I create storyboards to envision the animation. Then, I start roughing out the animation by hand, taking inspiration from the storyboards. Next, I add more refined in-between drawings to smoothen out the action. Once the rough animation is done, I move on to adding color and texture using TV paint. This software allows me to easily fill in colors and create lighting effects. Finally, I can further enhance the animation by adding lighting effects in my editing software.
The amount of work and artistry that goes into creating an animated scene like this is why AI cannot replace human animators. The choices made throughout the process and the ability to bring characters to life with emotions and desires are uniquely human skills.
Keywords:
AI, animation job, human touch, hand-drawn animation, character animation, emotions, storytelling, technology, art, process, 2D animation, 3D animation, animation studios, platforms, fear, beauty, world, AI limitations.
FAQ:
Will AI be able to replicate the emotions and desires portrayed by human animators? No, AI lacks the ability to truly understand and portray emotions and desires in characters. It takes a human touch to bring characters to life and make viewers emotionally invested.
Can AI completely replace human animators in the animation industry? While AI and technology have influenced the animation process, they cannot replace the unique skills and creativity of human animators. The artistry and storytelling abilities of human animators are irreplaceable.
What role does technology play in the animation process? Technology has streamlined the animation process over the years, making it more efficient and allowing for easier colorization and lighting effects. However, it is still the human animator's artistic choices and storytelling abilities that bring characters to life.
Is there still a demand for 2D animation in today's industry? Yes, 2D animation continues to be appreciated and celebrated in the industry. While it may not have the same presence in big studios as it once did, there is still a viable market for 2D animation on various platforms, creating opportunities for artists to showcase their skills.
How can artists contribute to keeping 2D animation alive? By embracing new technologies while preserving the essence of traditional animation, artists can continue creating 2D animation that is visually stunning and emotionally engaging. Rather than fighting against technology, artists should focus on creating the art they want and putting beauty back into the world.