As someone who grew up with Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and has since revisited Tolkien’s epic fantasy countless times, I must admit that these AI-generated depictions of Middle-earth characters based on the books have both intrigued and left me scratching my beard (or lack thereof in Aragorn’s case).
Artificial intelligence might not have all the answers yet, but it can certainly give off a convincing impression of someone. For example, two YouTube videos by creators Screen AI and AI Overlords recently demonstrated this by recreating characters from “The Lord of the Rings” based on their book descriptions. The three-minute and seven-minute clips show several key figures from J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic trilogy. At the beginning of each segment, a picture of the actor from Peter Jackson’s trilogy is shown, followed by a text version of the character’s description from the book. The AI-generated depiction that follows is intended to surpass the well-known portrayal from the movie trilogy.
The roster features all members of The Fellowship of the Ring, together with significant secondary figures such as Théoden, Éowyn, Galadriel, Gollum, and Bilbo. From our findings, some visual representations are truly striking, showcasing a faithful interpretation that aligns well with the author’s depictions. However, certain images, which we’ll examine soon, might not be as accurate as they initially appear.
The comparison is a fun exercise and a reminder that every visual adaptation of a book is just that — an adaptation. Whether it’s a human brain or a computer translating data into a visual medium, there is always plenty of room for creative liberty — and lots of opportunities for outright errors. Let’s see where this AI creation falls on the adaptive scale.
How accurate is AI’s adaptation of Middle-earth?
Title of Screen AI’s video: “AI Creates LoTR Characters STRICTLY Based on Book Descriptions”
In “The Fellowship of the Ring,” Frodo is described as a short, rosy-cheeked individual, taller than some and more handsome than most. He also has a distinctive cleft in his chin, making him quite noticeable. This characterization suggests that he has fair skin.
In that same book, I’d describe Arwen like this: “My dark hair, untouched by frost, complements my flawless, smooth skin and clear face. The light of stars shines in my bright, grey-as-a-cloudless-night eyes. And to complete the look, I wear a cap made from delicate silver lace, adorned with tiny white gems that sparkle.”
As a devoted fan, I’d rephrase that intriguingly: “In one video, the scene concludes with an eerie likeness reminiscent of the Eye of Sauron, a captivating comparison indeed. In ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, this flaming orb is described as having edges ablaze, yet its core was a yellow hue, similar to a cat’s, with a watchful and unwavering gaze. It had a black slit for a pupil, peering into an empty void, a window to nothingness. However, the AI-generated image subtly deviates from this description. The pupil, for one, appears perfectly round instead of its original slit-like shape, and a significant portion of the eye is blue rather than the expected fiery hue.”
AI also makes some pretty bad mistakes
At certain instances, the AI’s interpretation can be quite inaccurate. For example, when depicting Gandalf, both AI-generated images accurately portray his white hair (even more so compared to Ian McKellen’s grey hair). However, Tolkien describes Gandalf as having a beard that extends below his waist, and in “The Hobbit,” he writes, “Gandalf looked at [Bilbo] from under long busy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his shady hat.” Unfortunately, AI’s representation often fails to capture this detail by depicting trimmed eyebrows and a neatly groomed beard instead.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, Aragorn is not extensively detailed but is described as having a dark, grey-flecked mane and stern, pale features with keen grey eyes. However, one depiction strays significantly from this description, presenting the Ranger as having clean brown hair, pointed Elven ears, and eyes that evoke an unsettling resemblance to the uncanny valley. Most notably, he sports a beard. Interestingly, Viggo Mortensen, who portrays Aragorn in “The Fellowship of the Ring,” wears a beard convincingly (and could potentially do so again in “The Hunt for Gollum”). However, it’s important to note that Tolkien himself stated in “The Nature of Middle-earth” that characters like Aragorn, Boromir, Faramir, and others of high Númenórean lineage are beardless.
The most glaring inconsistency of all is Gollum, especially in the Screen AI video. In “The Two Towers,” Gollum is described as, “The famished skeleton of some child of Men, its ragged garment still clinging to it, its long arms and legs almost bone-white and bone-thin: no flesh worth a peck.” This dramatic description implies an emaciated figure, but Gollum isn’t dead. The AI shows him as nothing short of a skeleton. The takeaway with all of this? Even AI can’t create an exact depiction of a written character, no matter how good the prompt.
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2024-08-17 20:59