Not the department. One specific job.
"The Furry Wild West" (a lion gunslinger, his dog sidekick, a kid-friendly spaghetti Western) just got optioned by AI studio Arcana Labs, for under $10M instead of the usual $100M.
Scripts, design, storyboards: all human
The only AI stage is filling in movement between the stills artists already drew. That job has a name: in-betweening.
It's the classic first rung
In-betweening is historically how junior animators cut their teeth before earning a shot at character design or storyboarding.
"those gatekeepers are disappearing"
Arcana's CEO, on why an original script like this used to need a major studio's yes, and now doesn't.
Same guy, five weeks later
This is Jonathan Yunger, the Expendables/Rambo producer who wrote about "reluctantly" becoming an AI guy. We covered him in July. He's back.
Last night's data, with a name on it
Codified knowledge (a formula for filling motion) goes to AI. Tacit knowledge (character and story judgment) stays human. Exactly as predicted.
Where did you cut your teeth?
What was your unglamorous first job in this business, the one that actually taught you the craft?