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In the heart of Hollywood, a robust debate concerning the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry is currently underway. Although the possibilities presented by AI are indeed tantalizing, the perturbation it induces is seemingly imperceptible to Bret Iwan, the American voice actor of Mickey Mouse, who holds an unshakeable conviction that AI could never encapsulate the quintessential spirit of the character.
“There is undoubtedly a remarkable progression in technology being made with AI, and it is incredibly awe-inspiring,” Iwan conveyed in an interview. However, he was firm in his belief that “nothing can supplant the heart of a character and, more importantly, the heart of storytelling.”
In his opinion, the nuances of character and narrative are inextricably tethered to the craft of the performer, writer, animator, artist, and creator. He conveyed this assertion emphatically during an interview preceding the centenary of Disney Studios, set to occur on October 16.
While the company is engrossed in the festivities marking its centennial, the jubilant spirit is notably absent in Hollywood this summer. The writer’s guild has been on strike for over two months, with actors threatening to augment the social upheaval by joining the strike.
In addition to inevitable salary disputes, the tempest of discontent is significantly fueled by the American film industry’s apprehension towards AI. This emergent tool, still in its nascent stage, possesses the potential to generate scripts, clone voices, or mimic actors.
However, for Iwan, the originality ingrained in creators is of paramount importance for storytelling, the art of weaving narratives. “I dare to hope that this aspect will endure and allow real people to continue this work for some time!” states the forty-something-year-old, who is only the fourth official performer of the character.
The falsetto voice of the renowned mouse with large ears was initially portrayed by Walt Disney himself since the character’s inaugural appearance in the animated film “Steamboat Willie” in 1928. Then, two other actors adopted this high-pitched tone for over three decades before Iwan took up the mantle.
“I hope I can continue doing it as long as my vocal cords can endure,” the performer confides, who is also the voice of Mickey in the “Kingdom Hearts” video game series.
In the realm of animation, a genre upon which Disney built its reputation, technology has already played a pivotal role for many years. Computer-generated images have long since superseded traditional hand-drawn animation, both within Disney and its competitors.
While humans continue to craft films, the recent application of AI to create the credits for the series Secret Invasion, broadcast on the Disney+ streaming platform, sparked controversy in Hollywood.
Yet, for Eric Goldberg, the animator who designed the iconic genie in the 1992 animated film “Aladdin,” this burgeoning technology poses a more imminent threat to the more recent sectors of his industry.
“I think AI is less likely to impact hand-drawn animation than computer animation because AI is about replicating realism,” he summarizes. “The characters I draw, the genie’s head can transform into a toaster! Which is not possible with an AI character!”
“Hand-drawn animation gives us a slight advantage from this perspective,” he adds.
At 68 years old, this passionate craftsman has just finished training five new apprentice animators at Disney. He remains convinced that there will always be “a core of us who want to see hand-drawn animations.”
“I don’t think AI will be a problem for this aspect of the medium, because we need to heavily use our imagination to represent hand-drawn characters, due to the flexibility of what they can do,” he explains. He concludes that traditional animation will continue to persist, “as long as there are people who still want to do it!”
With AFP
