behind the scenes

An experimental documentary/animation hybrid exploring likeness scanning, AI, and what that means for identity.

Pilgrimage into Walden XII Chapter Two: Surplus Intelligence

“Surplus Intelligence” is a film that was written by Artificial Intelligence, simulated on a game engine, and directed by Miao Ying. Using Machine Learning Text Generation Neural Networks and Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3, the artist trained the AI to study different styles of writing, including behavioral psychologist, B. F. Skinner’s utopia novel, “Walden Two"; the most popular Chinese online novel style “ 霸道总裁体 ”/ soft-core sadomasochistic Cinderella story depicting a domineering boss; opposing ideological theories; and bible stories.

Vexille

2067: Isolation: Japan seals herself off from the eyes of the world in the face of unilateral international policy setting strict limits on the use of robotic technology. The island nation exists only behind a veil of seclusion. No soul shall enter. No soul shall leave. 2077: Revelation: The veil is breached. Japan is infiltrated by agents of the organization S.W.O.R.D., a fighting force operating outside of the protection of the United States and her allies. Their mission: Determine if the Japanese are developing banned robotic bio-technology, forbidden due to its threat to humankind. In the battle between machine and man, humanity stands to suffer most.

Wings of Freedom

Home-loving eagle Salana is forced out of her jungle bird colony to join Pirro, an intrepid swift and member of the Animal Air Force. This unlikely duo embarks on an epic, high-flying adventure to stop a malevolent AI and save the world.

The Hypergaussian Wars

The Hypergaussian Wars is an AI-generated feature-length audiovisual work exploring algorithmic warfare, obsolete media and the transformation of images through repetition, saturation and collapse. Built from thousands of generated images, synthetic landscapes and references to 14th–16th century painting, the film stages a continuous conflict between historical visual culture and contemporary computational systems. Fragments of obsolete video games, ruined architectures, military simulations and post-human figures circulate through increasingly unstable environments. Rather than telling a linear story, the film operates as an image system in which visual excess progressively erodes meaning. The Hypergaussian Wars reflects on memory, obsolescence, artificial intelligence and the persistence of images after their original function has disappeared.

The Animatrix

Straight from the creators of the groundbreaking Matrix trilogy, this collection of short animated films from the world's leading anime directors fuses computer graphics and Japanese anime to provide the background of the Matrix universe and the conflict between man and machines. The shorts include Final Flight of the Osiris, The Second Renaissance, Kid's Story, Program, World Record, Beyond, A Detective Story and Matriculated.

Not Another Toy Story

When a young girl's fascination with her new tablet threatens to discard her beloved toys, a group of plastic figures must unite against the malevolent, digital entity that is stealing their owner's attention, leading to a desperate, violent battle for survival and relevance.

Dream On / Dream Off

Between Dream On and Dream Off there is a breath — a transition from image-memory to memory-image, where cinema no longer observes reality, but performs the act of remembering it.

The Amazing Kitsuverse

In search of her friends, an old lady enters the 'Amazing Kitsuverse' – a virtual paradise where anything is possible with a simple clap of the hands. There she meets the guardian of the realm: a clever little fox.

How to Unearth Creatures of Your Mind

The Sweet Dood unearths creatures from the depths of his mind, with the help of an omnipotent narrator.

No More

Through metaphor and visual abstraction, No More is an experimental video about love, loss and memories of years long gone. The animated imagery is created by running original photographs and xerography through an AI application. The song is by David Lynch’s music collaborator Dean Hurley.

Bug

In a desolate, dystopian world where humanity has long been extinct, a robot searches for parts to rebuild a fellow creature while tending a precious oasis - a radiant greenhouse that stands as a fragile testament to the beauty that once graced the Earth. On his journey, he encounters a beetle, forming a valuable friendship. Together, they embark on a journey filled with discovery, bringing hope and connection amid desolation.

The Second Renaissance Part I

Tells the early history of how conflict began between the humans and machines. Part 1 of 2.

The Second Renaissance Part II

The battle for Earth turns against the humans, despite their infamous desperate act of blackening the skies.

South Park: Joining the Panderverse

Cartman's deeply disturbing dreams portend the end of the life he knows and loves. Meanwhile, the adults in South Park are wrestling with their own life decisions, as the advent of AI is turning their world upside down.

Summer Wars

Teenage math whiz Kenji Koiso agrees to take a summer job at the Nagano hometown of his crush, Natsuki. When he arrives, he finds that her family have reunited to celebrate the 90th birthday of their matriarch. His job: pretend to be Natsuki's fiancé. Meanwhile, his attempt to solve a mathematical equation causes a parallel world's collision with Earth.

Generation

A brief journey through the human experience as seen by the eyes of an Artificial Intelligence.

BIG FUN in the BIO

Vince Collins tells of his animation history—looking to the past and eventually to AI and beyond.

I Fall in Love With You Through a Robot

Set in the year 2060, it follows a love story as Tokyo's third Olympics draws near. Takeru Oosawa, who works for the AI Robot Technology Research Lab, is chosen as a member of the national secret project using humanoid robots. With the help of childhood friend and co-worker Youichirou Amano and his sister Saki, Takeru tries his best to reach his objectives. However, the situation changes when Saki's office receives a warning note for terrorism.

AEOLUS

The House

Across different eras, a poor family, an anxious developer and a fed-up landlady become tied to the same mysterious house in this animated dark comedy.

Arctic Dogs

Animals band together to save the day when the evil Otto Von Walrus hatches a sinister scheme to accelerate global warming and melt the Arctic Circle.

Thriller Night

A Shrek parody of Michael Jackson's Thriller song and music video, with Donkey singing.

Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters

Po and the Furious Five uncover the legend of three of kung fu's greatest heroes: Master Thundering Rhino, Master Storming Ox, and Master Croc.

Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story

The maniacal baby of the Griffin family, Stewie, meets his future self. In doing this he discovers that his future image is not what he has anticipated because of a near death experience.

Sea Scouts

Donald is an admiral on a seagoing voyage with his nephews in which they encounter a ravenous shark.

The Willoughbys

When the four Willoughby children are abandoned by their selfish parents, they must learn how to adapt their Old-Fashioned values to the contemporary world in order to create something new: The Modern Family.

The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act

With Caine gone and the circus dark, the cast are left with only the mistakes and traumas of their pasts to keep them company. As the prospect of eternity closes in around them, they discover the truth about the Digital Circus and its history. Will they come to terms with what they uncover, or will they make... the other choice? Also, presumably at some point someone says something funny, because this ending can’t be THAT depressing, can it? A theatrical screening of episode 8 and the all new, hour-long episode 9.

Japoteurs

Superman vs. Japanese spies hijacking a new super-bomber.

An Ostrich Told Me the World Is Fake and I Think I Believe It

When a young telemarketer is confronted by a mysterious talking ostrich, he learns that the universe is stop motion animation. He must put aside his dwindling toaster sales and focus on convincing his colleagues of his terrifying discovery. It's scary business living in a stop motion world, where your faces come off and a giant hand controls your every move.

South Park (Not Suitable for Children)

After it's discovered that a teacher at South Park Elementary has an OnlyFans page, Randy is compelled to take a closer look at the seedy underbelly of the world of online influencers.

Thru the Mirror

Mickey has been reading Alice in Wonderland, and falls asleep. He finds himself on the other side of the mirror, where the furniture is alive.

Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet

Exiled artist and poet Mustafa embarks on a journey home with his housekeeper and her daughter; together the trio must evade the authorities who fear that the truth in Mustafa's words will incite rebellion.

Killer Bean Forever

When things go bad in Beantown, top assassin Killer Bean is called to clean-up the mess. Detective Cromwell finds himself in the middle between Killer Bean and mob boss Cappuccino.

Far from the Tree

On an idyllic beach in the Pacific Northwest, curiosity gets the better of a young raccoon whose frustrated parent attempts to keep them both safe.

Minions & More Volume 1

This collection of 10 short films produced by Illumination includes: From the "Despicable Me" franchise: Puppy (2013); Minion Scouts (2019); Training Wheels (2013); The Secret Life of Kyle (2017); Santa's Little Helpers (2019). From the "Grinch" franchise: The Dog Days of Winter (2019). From the "Secret Life of Pets" franchise: Norman Television (2016); Weenie (2016). From the "Sing" franchise: Love at First Sight (2017). From the "Lorax" franchise: Forces of Nature (2012).

Monster High: Friday Night Frights

After Monster High’s roller skating team is defeated at the Skulltimate Roller Maze tournament, the ghouls team up to face an all-boys league, with the hope of winning back the school crest and restoring school spirit.

Simpsley

When penniless con-artist Marge Bouvier is sent to Italy to convince wealthy sap Seymour Skinner to come home, she’s tempted by the trappings of his affluent lifestyle. But there’s a big fat fly in the ointment: Skinner’s clingy, dim-witted mooch of a houseguest, Homer Simpsley. Lies, lust and Italian lira are abound.

Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness

Young Chickenhare is the adopted son of King Peter, a famous adventurer. Part chicken and part hare, he has a really tough time growing up and disguises himself as a hare to avoid the mockeries of his peers. When the day of the Royal Adventurer Society trials comes, Chickenhare, hampered by his disguise, fails miserably. But he is determined to grab a second chance and find the Scepter of the Hamster of Darkness, before his evil Uncle Lapin. The Scepter will give immense power to its holder. If Lapin gets hold of it, he will be unstoppable. Accompanied by his faithful servant Abe, a sarcastic turtle, and Meg, a martial arts expert skunk, he sets of on an epic and initiatory quest.

Snoopy Presents: It's the Small Things, Charlie Brown

Charlie Brown is determined to win the big baseball game. But things turn into a fiasco right before the matchup, when Sally bonds with a little flower on the pitcher's mound and vows to protect it at all costs.