The Disney Movie That Should Have Been Made With AI

Disney's live-action remakes continue to be a gamble, with the new Moana film drawing harsh criticism for its lack of originality. Panned as a "shot-for-shot clone" of the animated classic, critics question its creative justification and purpose beyond a mere cash grab, especially following the original's recent sequel. Following poor reviews, Moana's box office projections have been significantly lowered, potentially leading to a "catastrophic" loss on its $250 million budget. The film's uninspired visuals have prompted comparisons to AI-generated content. This situation fuels a broader discussion about whether generative AI could produce unoriginal adaptations more cost-effectively, challenging studios to either innovate or embrace AI for these types of remakes.

Disney is famous for innovation, but the new 'Moana' remake has generated criticism for a lack of originality. (Photo by RONDA CHURCHILL/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Few genres of film have been as much of a gamble for Disney as the live-action remakes of its classic cartoons. Last year alone, Lilo & Stitch grossed $1 billion and became almost as beloved as the animated original while Snow White lost an estimated $170 million and cast a dark spell on the studio due to a slew of negative coverage. The latest addition to Disney’s stable is coming for Snow White’s crown as the criticism of it is so harsh that it raises the question of whether it would have been better to make the movie with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The movie in question is...