Estafette
Compose Login
You are browsing eu.zone1 in read-only mode. Log in to participate.
rss-bridge 2026-02-27T18:02:00+00:00

This Gorillaz Short Film Is The Kind Of Art AI Simply Can't Make

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's cartoon band, the Gorillaz, has taken a stand against generative AI with its new project, a short animated film that serves as a hand-crafted homage to the golden era of 2D animation. Released in time for the band's new album of the same name, The Mountain reimagines the group through the lens of a '60s-era animated film, complete with all the imperfections that made those movies look and feel special. Co-director Max Taylor says the project evolved into a "love letter to craftsmanship" during a time of "AI overload".Taylor added that animation studio The Line utilized a hybrid analog-digital workflow, mixing real materials, practical effects, and period-accurate limitations over contemporary shortcuts."If particular visuals couldn't be achieved in that era, then we didn't do them. We processed our digital pencil work to mimic photocopy degradation. We scanned real paintings at high resolution and finished the details digitally. It was about capturing the tactile quality that only real materials give you," Taylor said (via Catsuka). "In a time of AI overload, this is our love letter to craftsmanship. We're chasing the feel of pencil on paper. Paint on board. And all the imperfections that come with it."Continue Reading at GameSpot

---

This Gorillaz Short Film Is The Kind Of Art AI Simply Can't Make

"In a time of AI overload, this is our love letter to craftsmanship."

Darryn Bonthuys
on February 27, 2026 at 10:02AM PST

Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett's cartoon band, the Gorillaz, has taken a stand against generative AI with its new project, a short animated film that serves as a hand-crafted homage to the golden era of 2D animation. Released in time for the band's new album of the same name, The Mountain reimagines the group through the lens of a '60s-era animated film, complete with all the imperfections that made those movies look and feel special. Co-director Max Taylor says the project evolved into a "love letter to craftsmanship" during a time of "AI overload".

Taylor added that animation studio The Line utilized a hybrid analog-digital workflow, mixing real materials, practical effects, and period-accurate limitations over contemporary shortcuts.

"If particular visuals couldn't be achieved in that era, then we didn't do them. We processed our digital pencil work to mimic photocopy degradation. We scanned real paintings at high resolution and finished the details digitally. It was about capturing the tactile quality that only real materials give you," Taylor said (via Catsuka). "In a time of AI overload, this is our love letter to craftsmanship. We're chasing the feel of pencil on paper. Paint on board. And all the imperfections that come with it."

Another point of pride for the animation studio was the backgrounds, which are all painted base environments on real paper and scanned in to preserve their texture. Each shot was also composed to be reminiscent of classic animated features, to add another layer of authenticity to the film.

Generative AI has permeated almost every form of entertainment in the last couple of years, and video games are no exception. A recent GDC survey showed that game developers feel the use of generative AI in game development is actively hurting the industry. Many gamers have also been quick to call out any instances of "AI slop" in the medium, with games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 and Divinity being on the receiving end of a player backlash.

Despite the criticism, tech giants continue to insist that AI is the way of the future. Google recently unveiled Project Genie, a generative AI tool that the company claims can create worlds in real time. People were quick to create rip-offs of Mario and Fortnite with it, and several gaming companies saw their stock prices plummet in the wake of its reveal. Major publishers don't seem to be worried about Project Genie, and Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has said that people are largely overstating what AI can do. While AI might assist people, it will never completely replace human creativity.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

View Comments (4)

---

[Original source](https://www.gamespot.com/articles/this-gorillaz-short-film-is-the-kind-of-art-ai-simply-cant-make/1100-6538483/?ftag=CAD-01-10abi2f)

Reply