As a long-time anime fan and avid gamer, I have always held Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki in the highest regard. Their captivating stories, richly detailed animation, and unforgettable characters have left an indelible mark on my heart and imagination. “My Neighbor Totoro” is one of those rare gems that transported me to another world as a child, and I still cherish it to this day.
In 1988, Studio Ghibli’s “My Neighbor Totoro” by Hayao Miyazaki was unveiled and turned out to be a tremendous success. The beloved big, fluffy tree spirit character from the film has since become the symbolic mascot of Japan’s leading animation studio. With the help of AI technology, fans can now experience Totoro in an entirely new way. YouTuber AI_Anime_Labo has applied AI to this classic masterpiece and showcased the remarkable outcomes for viewers to enjoy.
In this YouTube Shorts video, you’ll have an up-close encounter with both the iconic large Totoro character and his smaller companions from his woodland tribe. Additionally, the footage offers captivating views of the authentic Japanese countryside, serving as the backdrop for the storyline. The narrative centers around two young sisters who relocate to the rural area with their father to be near their ailing mother. It’s in this setting that Satsuki and Mei make friends with Totoro and an assortment of enchanting creatures, including the endearing soot spirits, beautifully depicted in the AI-generated clip.
AI makes the Catbus look terrifying
In the cherished animated film “My Neighbor Totoro” by Studio Ghibli, there’s a remarkable character named Catbus. As its name suggests, Catbus is a unique fusion of a cat and a bus. In an iconic scene, Satsuki and Mei wait at a rain-soaked bus stop for their father. While Mei dozes off, Totoro makes himself known to Satsuki for the first time. With only a leaf for shelter from the rain, Satsuki shares her umbrella with him, bringing him great joy. Suddenly, instead of the expected bus arriving, the Catbus materializes, and Totoro hops aboard. Later in the movie, when Mei goes missing, Catbus comes to the rescue at Satsuki’s call.
In AI_Anime_Labo’s video, there are two distinct representations of the Catbus. The first one is recognizable as a yellow school bus adorned with cat features, reminiscent of the real-life Catbuses that started running in Ghibli Park, Japan, since 2024. However, the second depiction of the Catbus is significantly different and not suitable for Ghibli at all. AI showcased an authentic version of the Catbus, which is downright terrifying. This menacing creature resembles the Cheshire Cat from “Alice in Wonderland,” but as if it had transformed into the antagonist in a horror movie. With its jagged teeth and wild eyes, this Catbus would never appear in a Hayao Miyazaki production.
What does Hayao Miyazaki think about AI?
At a 2016 event at Tokyo’s Dwango Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, renowned animator Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli expressed his dislike for the application of artificial intelligence in animation. During the presentation, Miyazaki and his partner Toshio Suzuki were introduced to an AI-generated character capable of movement. The ultimate goal was to produce human-like actions, but the output fell significantly short.
In a meeting video, Miyazaki is captured looking on in dismay as Dwango’s AI invention crawls along the ground using its head like a limb. The sight is disturbing and unsettling. Unimpressed by what he witnessed, Miyazaki voiced his disapproval to the project team. “I am deeply disturbed,” he declared. “Feel free to create such eerie productions if you prefer. However, I would never consider using this technology in my own projects. I believe it is a desecration of life itself.”
As a longtime fan of Miyazaki-san and his enchanting animations, I’ve come across this common misconception that he hates AI and CGI. However, having delved deeper into his work, I can confidently debunk this myth.
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2024-07-22 22:59