In a recent industry round table conducted by The Los Angeles Times, several Hollywood executives gathered to discuss the state of audiovisual entertainment as we step in to 2024 after years of much fluctuation and disruption. The talk touched on the effects of the writers’ and actors’ strikes, the ongoing tug of war between linear and streaming, and the looming specter of AI.
The panel included Roy Lee (Founder, Vertigo Ent.), Jonathan Glickman (Founder & CEO, Panoramic Media), FredAnthony Smith (VP Non-Scripted, SMAC Ent.), Nicole Brown (President, TriStar Pictures), Chris Hart (Partner & Co-Head of Talent, UTA) and Sam Register (President, Warner Bros. Animation, Cartoon Network Studios and Hanna-Barbera Studios Europe).
Tackling the topic of artificial intelligence applied to content creation, Warner Bros. Discovery’s top toon authority commented,
“Animation’s a visual medium. But so far, I haven’t seen anything AI can do visually that an artist doesn’t do better currently … As an animation studio, I just think it’s important we protect the artists and the art form as long as we can. Because I think we should give jobs to people who really do that and so they can get their entry-level experience.”
Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation, is against using AI.
“I just think it’s important we protect the artists and the art form as long as we can. [With storyboarding], we should give jobs to people who really do that so they can get their entry-level experience.” pic.twitter.com/nfvZPeW2mt
— Animation on Max (@AnimationOnMax) January 2, 2024
Register also commented on the studio’s considerations when it comes to backing projects for its linear and streaming platforms: “We make everything from preschool to adult animation, and it’s the kids, that 6-to-11 core, that basically Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon and Disney all made their bones on. That is disappearing. We’re seeing a lot more YA and adult animation doing great. And we see a lot of younger content being produced. But it’s that space in the middle, and it’s not just streaming that’s getting kids away from linear. It’s YouTube and it’s Roblox.”
