Creating for Creatives: A Humanistic Approach to Designing AI Tools Targeted at Professional Animators

Abstract

Creative endeavors have long been thought to be a uniquely human form of expression, something that could never be truly replicated by artificial means. However, as artificial intelligence (AI) continues to develop, both popular culture and academia have begun speculating about the creative capabilities of computers. However, the majority of literature on the topic is concerned with the capabilities of the technology, not the needs of the intended users. In this paper, we interview 16 animators with the goal of developing a set of guiding principles concerning the design of future AI-powered tools. Through these interviews, we determined two factors that should act as the foundation for an AI-powered tool. First, what stage of animation is the tool designed for: Research, Ideation, Rough Animation, Detail, or Editing? Second, what type of animator is the tool designed for: Fine Animators, Freelance Animators, or Novices? Using these factors, we’ve organized a variety of design recommendations and guiding principles, which we hope will both be used as a resource to practitioners working on AI technologies targeting animation. Additionally, we hope that the contributions of this paper will spark discussion concerning how AI can best aid human agents, rather than what AI is capable of.