Graphic designers, screenwriters, and animation directors were among the first to use technological innovations as a tool in their creative process. However, they are also the first to know that no technology can replace the sensitivity, vision, and commitment of human creators.
The act of creation is a profoundly human endeavor, shaped by lived experiences, cultures, and genuine emotions — all elements beyond the reach of AI.
At a time when the animation industry is facing an unprecedented crisis, OpenAI’s initiative is especially worrying given that the company has previously shown disregard for copyright protections, having copied or used works by Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki, among others, without seeking permission.
French animated cinema, renowned worldwide for its artistic richness and high standards, relies on the talents of human creators and technicians, which must be preserved – as must the diversity of perspectives, the quality of the works, and the balance of our entire cultural ecosystem.
Furthermore, the Cannes Film Festival, cited by OpenAI as the intended platform for the film’s premiere, cannot bec o-opted for commercial promotion or used to legitimize the replacement of human creators.
We, the undersigned, call on public authorities, film festivals, and citizens to stand with us in defending creative freedom — a freedom that must remain responsible, ethical, and above all, deeply human. Every creative work must be led by human authors in key artistic roles.
