‘What’s left is you’: AI is the elephant in the room of Europe’s biggest animation festival

The animation industry is grappling with the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI), with participants divided on its potential benefits and drawbacks.
During a panel at the Annecy festival, speakers like Henry Daubrez and Benjamin Michel expressed optimism, emphasizing that AI can democratize animation and enhance creative opportunities.
However, the ambivalence is strong, with concerns that AI could undermine the creative control and value of traditional craftsmanship, as highlighted by panelists like Leo Neumann and Jade Hautin.
The fear is especially intense among emerging animators, like Quique Gasca, who worry that AI could usurp the foundational, hands-on experience necessary to learn and innovate in the field.
Jade Hautin and her collective Creative Machines? actively challenge the promises and ethics of generative AI, pointing to its environmental impacts and lack of proper consent from original creators.
The industry overall struggles to frame the conversation around various types of AI, leading to confusion and polarization between those who embrace and those who vehemently oppose its use.
Despite the promise of efficiency, studios report that the integration of AI often demands considerable time and raises ethical concerns around ownership and creativity.
The festival showcased both open and covert discussions about AI, underscoring the fear and division it instills within the community.

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