Wildwood took five years to make, including 36 puppets of its main character, Prue. Knight stresses Laika is not against technology: it uses computers and 3D printers, and the film adds puppet diaphragms that mimic breathing and more advanced limb musculature. His line is drawn where software replaces the artist. He argues that stories about grief and love have to come from people who have lived them. He calls AI extraordinary and sees big potential in medicine and science, but worries it could be devastating without responsible stewardship.
Why it matters
Hollywood is split on generative AI, with studios training models on their films and exploring digital replicas of stars. A respected studio openly rejecting the technology gives artists a clear reference point in that argument. It may also become a selling point: handmade work could gain value as AI-made content spreads. Whether audiences reward that choice at the box office is the open question.
Original source
Wildwood’s director says AI is ‘antithetical to everything that we are at this studio’
The Verge
theverge.com
Summary by Second Order AI. Full reporting is at the original source.