Netflix removes AI art poster for Arcane after creators protest
Netflix has pulled a poster for season two of the popular series Arcane when fans noticed that AI had been used to create the promotional art. Arcane was created by Riot Games and French animation studio Fortiche for Netflix and is a critical darling for its visual artistry, combining digital and hand-drawn artwork.
That’s why one fan thought an oddly shaped hand on a poster when the show was paused seemed out of character Arcane and asked people behind the show about it on X. Arcane brand leader Alex Shahmiri confirmed the AI origins of the art and that it was a mistake because Arcane has a strict rule against using AI art for the series.
“I appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We have a strict no-ai attitude to anything involving secrecy as it is disrespectful to the incredible artists who worked on the show. This image was a mistake and has since been removed. Again for calling out”, Shahmri wrote to X in response to the discovery of AI art. “I can only talk about what I’m working on. On a purely personal level, I’m not a fan of AI, because what makes art so special is the human connection and feeling. Whether through art, music or any creative medium is – it’s something I never want to see replaced by AI.”
I appreciate you bringing this to our attention. we have a strict stance that we will not cover anything involving secrecy as it is disrespectful to the incredible artists who worked on the show. this image was a mistake and has since been removed. ty again for calling it outNovember 22, 2024
AI art battle
Netflix pulling the show’s poster is fitting, but Arcane is not unique in answering questions about the use of AI art, with or without permission from the creatives behind the show. Disney addressed a similar issue during the Marvel show Secret invasion used AI-generated art in displaying the show’s opening credits. Fans and artists alike criticized Disney for the choice. Method Studios, which designed the opening credits, said at the time that the AI tools didn’t replace jobs, but it undoubtedly left a sour taste in the mouths of many people who would otherwise enjoy the show.
Using AI to create images is often easier, faster and cheaper than hiring human artists. However, that doesn’t mean it’s better. The debate over the role of AI in art involves commercial, cultural and aesthetic issues that are sometimes difficult to quantify. How much money should you save by using AI to make up for turning off viewers? How degraded is a show that uses AI art, and is the speed of completion worth it not looking as good as when humans design the show? AI tools like DALL-E and MidJourney may have opened new doors for creators, but what’s fine for a marketing campaign or personal entertainment isn’t always good enough for a project seeking artistic integrity and commercial success.
That’s before we even get into how AI image makers are often trained on existing artwork in a way that sometimes sounds a lot like plagiarism. It’s amusing that the backlash against AI art is creating its own market.
Digital art app Procreate explicitly stated against the use of generative AI in art and vowed never to use it in its own features. AI art can still emerge from major companies like Netflix and Disney. But if creators continue to refuse to use it in their projects for the big companies, it won’t become prevalent but will become an occasional irritant in marketing and promotional materials. A cautionary tale of opportunity over quality.
