Yesterday, we learned that Secret Invasion's haunting opening credits were created by AI. There was some backlash, though most of it seemed to come in articles reporting the news rather than directly from fans.
It's strange, as critics who saw the first two episodes over a week early had little to say about the animated sequence in reviews. There is, however, an awful lot of negativity surrounding AI online at the moment, particularly when it comes to the technology potentially taking people's jobs.
Method Studios, a team that's worked on multiple MCU projects, has now issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter in an effort to clear up how this opening was brought to life. As you can see below, they confirm the use of AI didn't come at the cost of artists' jobs.
"Working on Secret Invasion, a captivating show exploring the infiltration of aliens into human society, provided an exceptional opportunity to delve into the intriguing realm of AI, specifically for creating unique character attributes and movements. Utilizing a custom AI tool for this particular element perfectly aligned with the project’s overall theme and the desired aesthetic."
"The production process was highly collaborative and iterative, with a dedicated focus on this specific application of an AI toolset. It involved a tremendous effort by talented art directors, animators (proficient in both 2D and 3D), artists, and developers, who employed conventional techniques to craft all the other aspects of the project."
"However, it is crucial to emphasize that while the AI component provided optimal results, AI is just one tool among the array of toolsets our artists used. No artists’ jobs were replaced by incorporating these new tools; instead, they complemented and assisted our creative teams."
"Method Studios’ team of designers skillfully leveraged the power of both existing and custom AI technologies to apply the otherworldly and alien look. The entire process, guided by expert art direction, encompassed the initial storyboard phase, illustration, AI generation, 2D/3D animation and culminated in the final compositing stage."
Unbelievably, there are those who have declared these credits the worst thing Marvel Studios has ever done. That's laughable, in all honesty, and it's hard not to wonder whether the fear surrounding AI is the root cause of this apparent backlash.
Either way, on the day Secret Invasion premiered, we're sure Marvel Studios wasn't overly happy to see the opening credits dominate headlines in place of the series itself.
The first episode of Secret Invasion is now streaming on Disney+.