Netflix removes AI art poster for Arcane after an outcry from creators

Netflix has pulled a poster for season two of its popular show Arcane as fans noticed that AI had been used to make the promotional art. Arcane is made by Riot Games and French animation studio Fortiche for Netflix and is a critical darling for its visual artistry, combining digital and hand-drawn artwork.

That’s why a fan thought a weirdly shaped hand on a poster when the show is paused seemed out of character for Arcane and asked people behind the show about it on X. Arcane brand lead Alex Shahmiri confirmed the AI origin of the art and that it was a mistake because Arcane has a strict rule against using AI art for the series.

“Appreciate you bringing this to our attention. we have a strict stance of no ai for anything relating to arcane cause it’s disrespectful to the incredible artists who worked on the show. this image was a mistake and has since been removed. ty again for calling it out,” Shahmri wrote on X in response to the AI art discovery. “I can only speak to what i work on. from a purely personal level, i’m not a fan of ai because what makes art so special is the human connection and feeling. be it through art, music, or any creative medium – it’s something i never want to see replaced by ai.”

AI Art Fight

Netflix pulling the poster off of the show is fitting, but Arcane isn’t unique in facing questions of AI art being used, with or without the permission of the creatives behind the show. Disney dealt with a similar issue when the Marvel show Secret Invasion used AI-generated art when displaying the credits for the show. Both fans and artists criticized Disney for the choice. Method Studios, who designed the credits, said at the time that the AI tools replaced no jobs, but it undoubtedly left a sour taste in many people who would otherwise enjoy the show.

Using AI to make…