Secret Invasion (Disney +): Marvel creates the credits for its series with AI and causes controversy

Secret Invasion, the new Marvel series broadcast on the Disney+ streaming platform since June 21, is creating controversy. In question, its credits are the fruit of artificial intelligence, a choice that revolts artists and professionals, but defended by the creators of the program.

A decried decision

Certainly, the decision to use AI in Secret Invasion is consistent with the themes of the Marvel series. This tells how Nick Fury will have to prevent the invasion of the Skrulls, capable of changing their appearance and infiltrated on Earth for years.

This does not prevent artists and technicians in the industry from scolding this decision, which jeopardizes their professions. “Rude” for some people, “immoral” for others : the credits raised a heated debate on the Internet and raises moral questions.

• Watch the series credits:

If he admits not “really understand” how artificial intelligence works, Ali Selim, director and producer of the Marvel series, defended this choice: “When we contacted the AI ​​companies, it was consistent with the changing identity of the Skrulls”he replies to his critics.

The director talks about the “creative” process set up with the company Method Studios, already at the origin of the credits of Loki, Moon Knight And For All Mankind : “We would talk to them about ideas, themes and words, then the computer would shut down and do something. And we could change the final rendering using words […] It was an inevitable, exciting and different exploration.”

At the crossroads of German neo-expressionism and cubism, the credits of Secret Invasion is an atypical visual proposal in the framed universe of the MCU. It should not be forgotten, however, that the artificial intelligence used styles, works and the work of uncredited artists to generate it. In short, it has created nothing, let alone anything truly innovative.

In an Instagram post (now deleted), technicians from Method Studios declared their work “revolutionary”marking a “significant milestone” in the use of AI.

At a time when a film like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse draws on global talent to create something innovative and inspiring, and where series such as Severance Or Succession benefit from inspired credits, that of Secret Invasion seems quite bland.

The mini-series, consisting of six episodes, is broadcast on Disney+ on a weekly basis. Its finale is scheduled for July 26.