Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s AI studio, Primordial Soup, unveiled an animated AI short-form collection in regards to the American Revolution titled On This Day 1776 on January 29. As quickly because the trailer and the primary two episodes dropped on YouTube, viewers expressed disappointment over the filmmaker’s use of AI for storytelling.
Darren Aronofsky’s AI collection disappoints
The undertaking marks a collaboration between Primordial Soup and Google DeepMind. The collection tells quick narrative tales in regards to the Revolutionary Battle utilizing generative AI instruments. In keeping with the announcement, the intention of the undertaking is to “reframe the Revolution not as a foregone conclusion however as a fragile experiment formed by those that fought for it.”
Viewers took to social media to share their disapproval. One submit learn, “That is really essentially the most evil factor I’ve ever seen.” One other X consumer wrote, “I’ve seen anons on Twitter make higher AI movies.” One other remark stated, “Nobody ought to assist this. Not solely as a result of it’s AI, however as a result of it seems to be horrible.” One disillusioned viewer wrote, “That is embarrassing,” whereas one other commented, “Yuck. It was solely a matter of time earlier than Hollywood went full AI for a movie. Bit disillusioned it’s Darren, although.”
Reacting to the primary episode, one other consumer wrote, “This seems to be completely atrocious. Even the primary few seconds look extra like AI slop than I anticipated — and it solely will get worse. Completely appalling. I’m not watching anymore. Downvoted, and hopefully you gained’t do that nonsense once more.”
Every episode of the short-form collection will give attention to a distinct key second from that pivotal yr. The actual fact-based narratives will depend on SAG-AFTRA voice actors and AI-generated visuals, with every episode releasing on the 250th anniversary of the occasion it depicts on Time’s YouTube channel.
About Darren Aronofsky
Darren Aronofsky is an acclaimed American filmmaker who made his debut with Pi (1998) and went on to direct critically lauded movies corresponding to Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, Black Swan and Mom!. His work usually explores themes of obsession, identification, habit and the human psyche, pushing emotional and narrative boundaries.
For the psychological horror movie Black Swan (2010), Aronofsky obtained Finest Director nominations on the Academy Awards, British Academy Movie Awards and Golden Globe Awards. His most up-to-date movie, Caught Stealing (2025), is a black comedy crime thriller starring Austin Butler as a former star baseball player-turned-bartender who unwittingly turns into entangled in New York Metropolis’s legal underworld whereas pet-sitting for his neighbour. The movie obtained constructive evaluations from critics however underperformed on the field workplace.