Artificial intelligence is transforming the animation world!

Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya from the Cartoon and Animation Department stated that while the use of artificial intelligence in animation accelerates production processes, it also brings new discussions about creativity, copyrights, and the future of the profession. “Another concern is the reduction of entry-level jobs where young people, especially those new to the profession, learn and gain mastery,” she said. Emphasizing that artificial intelligence is transforming the profession rather than replacing animation artists, Kaya added, “Artificial intelligence can visualize an idea, but it is still humans who decide what is worth telling, why a character behaves a certain way, and what emotion will be evoked in the audience.”

Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya from Üsküdar University, Faculty of Communication, Cartoon and Animation Department, evaluated the artistic expressive power of animation, the effects of artificial intelligence on the sector, the future of animation education, and the role of cartoon characters in children's development on the occasion of October 28 World Animation Day.

“Animation's greatest power is its ability to make visible what cannot be captured with a camera”

Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya stated that animation is not just limited to cartoons for children, and said that this field is a powerful narrative language that appeals to different age groups.

Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya stated that animation can also address social and individual issues such as war, migration, grief, and identity, adding, “Animation is a narrative language. Just as cartoons can be made for children, adult films depicting war, migration, grief, and identity can also be produced with this language. Animation's greatest strength is its ability to make visible what cannot be captured with a camera. An emotion, a memory, a dream, or a city destroyed thousands of years ago…” she said.
Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya pointed out that the usage areas of animation are expanding, stating, “Today, we see animation not only in cinema and television but also in digital games, advertisements, music videos, medical and engineering education, museums, and digital recreations of archaeological sites. A cartoon watched by a child, a virtual museum, a virtual reality experience bringing the past to life, or a simulation viewed by a surgeon before an operation are all products of the same art.” she explained.

Artificial intelligence enables small teams to produce large projects

Noting that artificial intelligence technologies have brought significant changes to animation production processes, Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya said the following:
“Animation has always been a labor-intensive job. A lot of frames were meticulously worked on for a single second of movement. Artificial intelligence accelerates production, especially in these routine, repetitive tasks, such as generating in-between frames for movements, background drafts, color and light tests, cleaning up voiceovers, and synchronizing lip movements with speech. This also enables small teams, independent artists, and students to undertake tasks previously exclusive to large studios.”

Dr. Kaya stated that artificial intelligence also supports creative processes during the idea development phase, and expressed that the ability to perform rapid visual experiments offers new possibilities to artists.

“Legal regulations have not yet caught up with the pace of technology”

Dr. Kaya stated that alongside the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence, it also brings significant ethical and legal issues to the agenda, adding, “The question of whose artworks these tools are trained on without their permission, who owns a visual produced with artificial intelligence, and the ability to imitate a cartoonist's style developed over years in a few seconds, are being debated both globally and in our country. Legal regulations have not yet caught up with the pace of technology,” she said.
Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya, also addressing the potential effects of artificial intelligence on employment, stated, “Another concern is the reduction of entry-level jobs where young people, especially those new to the profession, learn and gain mastery.”

“A good animation artist is first and foremost a good observer”

Emphasizing that creativity, observation, and storytelling are of great importance in animation education, alongside technological skills, Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya said, “In the Üsküdar University Cartoon and Animation department, our students start from the basics. They learn to draw, observe their surroundings, understand movement and timing. Because no matter how much technology changes, a good animation artist is first and foremost a good observer,” she said.

Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya stated that students receive education in areas such as scriptwriting, storyboard, character design, two and three-dimensional animation, editing, sound, and music design, adding, “Our students learn both to use and question these tools. At the center of our educational philosophy is always the human. While keeping technical skills up-to-date, we teach them to ask who the audience is, what they need, and what they will feel in every design decision. Our goal is to train artists who can use software, but also know what they want to tell, can work in a team, and have found their artistic voice.” she explained.

Animation characters influence children's emotional world

Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya stated that animation has significant effects on how children perceive the world, adding, “Children form very strong bonds with animation characters. They often see them as real friends. A character's courage, friendship, overcoming fear, or learning from a mistake can help a child recognize their own emotions, name them, and empathize with others,” she said.

“Producing content for children requires great responsibility”

Dr. Kaya also pointed out that the effects of animation on children may not always be positive, stating, “Therefore, producing content for children requires great responsibility. It is also very important for families to know what their children are watching, and if possible, to watch it together and discuss it. With the right content, animation is one of the most powerful tools that nourish a child's imagination.”

“The profession is not disappearing, it is transforming”

Kaya emphasized that with the development of artificial intelligence, the skills animation artists need to possess have also changed, and said that being able to use technology alone is not enough.

Asst. Prof. Özge Kaya, pointing out that the decisive role of humans in artistic production continues, concluded her words as follows:

“Artificial intelligence can visualize an idea, but it is still humans who decide what is worth telling, why a character behaves a certain way, and what emotion will be evoked in the audience. Therefore, technically adapting to evolving technology and artificial intelligence is a necessity. However, while doing so, we must always prioritize a human-centered design approach. Technology gains meaning only when it serves the narrative and the audience. That is why the profession is not disappearing; it is transforming. Future animation artists should be intellectual individuals who can use these tools consciously and ethically, but whose primary strength comes from their storytelling, observation, and design skills.”