This Short Film Explores the Intersection of Animation and AI

BluBlu Studios has unveiled its latest artistic endeavour, 'HumAIn.' Learn how a generative AI experiment evolved into an animated short that combines traditional animation with AI tools to push creative boundaries.

'HumAIn' marks BluBlu Studios' significant step into the ongoing conversation about AI in the creative industry, offering an optimistic perspective on how technology can enhance human creativity rather than replace it. 

Created by Miłosz Kokociński, co-founder and animation director at BluBlu Studios, the film delves into the human aspects of artificial intelligence, illustrating its attempts to emulate human capabilities.

The Role of AI in the Creative Process

To bring this vision to life, the studio employed a blend of traditional animation techniques and AI-driven tools. They used Stable Diffusion and img2img methods to generate a unique aesthetic. As Miłosz describes, the composition and motion were created using Cinema 4D and After Effects to maintain control over the creation process.

“The main challenge was keeping the style and image consistency and minimizing the randomness of the generated frames. That's why we opted for a stop-motion effect, blending it with AI-enhanced, painted textures to create a visually cohesive and aesthetically compelling animation.”

While AI contributed to the visual style, this approach ensured that the creative direction and narrative coherence remained firmly under human control.

The Soundscape of 'HumAIn'

The auditory landscape of 'HumAIn' is equally ground breaking. Robert Ostiak, the music composer for the film, integrated AI to craft a soundscape that mirrors the film's exploration of AI's capabilities. According to Robert, "The music was meant to be an integral part of the animation, immersing itself in the perspective of an AI discovering the world and becoming aware of its own existence. Using AI tools felt like a natural choice for this project."

By combining AI-generated jazz vocals with electronic music, Robert could express both the wonder of self-awareness and the anxiety associated with the unknown. 

Pushing the Boundaries of What’s Possible

BluBlu Studios’ approach to AI is grounded in the belief that AI should complement, not substitute, human creativity. Miłosz Kokociński emphasized this perspective, stating:

"While working on 'HumAIn,' I realised that generative artificial intelligence enables us to do things that would be difficult to achieve using traditional methods. In the past, every new technology pushed the boundaries of what is possible. We are experiencing this again now."

Miłosz adds that GAI is simply another tool BluBlu incorporates into its creative arsenal, and it will continue doing so with solutions that are yet to come.

Looking Forward

BluBlu states that 'HumAIn' represents a significant milestone in the studio's exploration of AI's potential in animation. The studio plans to continue along this path with the upcoming release of their new reel, 'To Creativity', designed to be “a tribute to human creativity and all brave creators, artists, and dreamers.”