Artificial Intelligence and Emotional Engagement in Animation

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has significantly transformed animation tools and techniques in the last years. The film industry has been quick to integrate the new technology in production methods, which affect creative professionals and their artistic outcomes. But concerns about the use of generative artificial intelligence in creative industries require a closer examination into the ways animators use the recently developed instruments, with the possibilities and implications that accompany them. Based on theoretical analyses, this study focuses in particular on the emotional engagement produced by artificial intelligence in animation, reviewing some of the latest literature, methods of meaning-making, affective and aesthetic theories, as well as principles of visual and narrative for animated content, before concentrating on aspects of artificial intelligence-powered tools to generate emotions, including nostalgia. The objectives of the paper are to identify methods for enhancing animation with artificial intelligence, to strengthen the understanding of computer-generated animation mechanisms of emotional engagement, to support animators and animation students in the use of artificial intelligence, and to identify ethical and creative considerations for the use of artificial intelligence in animation making.