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TCL Debuts Five New AI-Generated Short Films, Ranked from Tolerable to “I Wish I Could Unsee This”
Earlier this year, TCL released a trailer for Next Stop Paris, an AI-animated short film that drew criticism for its lifeless expressions, characters that don’t move their mouths when they talk, and weird animation that makes scenes appear to vibrate. But it turns out that was just the beginning. TCL has debuted five new AI-generated short films, all destined for its TCLtv Plus free streaming platform.
Despite some improvement over Next Stop Paris, these films still serve as a reminder that AI-generated videos aren’t quite there yet. The issues go beyond just the AI itself, as some of the films suffer from poor storytelling, direction, and often, just plain weirdness.
Here, we’ll explore each of the five films, ranked from tolerable to “I wish I could unsee this”:
5. Sun Day – This futuristic short film follows a young girl who lives on a planet where the sun only comes out every seven years. The AI-generated sequences become hard to follow as she tries to escape bullies and navigate the sewers. The voice acting is passable, but the lack of facial expressions is laughable.
4. Project Nexus – This five-minute trailer-like film depicts animated characters and features a supernatural plot about a man who finds a radioactive rock and coordinates the arrest of a group of teens who gain powers. The story is probably the most compelling, but the AI-generated animation and questionable voice acting make it hard to watch.
3. The Best Day of My Life – This docufiction-style short film retells the harrowing story of a doctor who lost his leg in an avalanche. The majority of the film is an AI flashback, showing clips of the doctor’s snowy adventure, but it’s hard to tell what parts of the story are fact and what’s dramatized for effect.
2. The Audition – This film follows an actor auditioning for a role, but it devolves into a series of strange and unfunny attempts at comedy. The actor transforms into various characters with the help of AI, only to be rejected by the casting director.
1. The Slug – This is the most disturbing of the bunch. A woman with arthritis is unable to leave her house, and she tries to reach out to family and her doctor. Her body gradually transforms into a slug, and it’s a truly unsettling experience. Viewer discretion is advised.