AI-Generated Animation in TV: Cool or Controversial?

Walking through the creative corridors of Burbank or grabbing a coffee near the animation studios in Glendale, the conversation usually centers on the next big project or the latest software update. But lately, a different, more anxious energy has taken hold. The news that AI was used to generate the animation for a TV show—specifically the Indonesian production “Legenda Bertuah” on Trans7 featuring Arie Kriting—has sent a ripple of unease through the Los Angeles creative community. It raises a question that is currently dividing the industry into two camps: is this evolution “cool” or is it fundamentally “messed up”?

For the artists in Southern California, this isn’t just a distant story about a production in Indonesia. It is a preview of a potential future where the human element of animation—the painstaking frame-by-frame artistry—is replaced by algorithmic efficiency. The debate isn’t just about the aesthetic quality of the work, but about the survival of the animator as a profession. When AI can handle the heavy lifting of visual storytelling, the threat of job losses becomes a tangible reality rather than a theoretical fear. This tension mirrors a larger global struggle to balance the “cool” factor of rapid technological advancement with the ethical responsibility to protect human livelihoods.

The Paradox of AI Adoption in Public Media

The complexity of this issue is highlighted by the very organization reporting on it. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) finds itself in a precarious position, navigating the same contradictions facing many media giants in the US. On one hand, the ABC is actively embracing AI to streamline its internal operations. They have developed “ABC Assist,” a sophisticated AI research tool that utilizes semantic search and large language models to help employees sift through massive document archives. This is the “cool” side of AI: a tool that makes it quicker and easier for journalists to find information and improve their research process.

the ABC has been working on its own large language model to enhance its work. However, there is a strict line drawn when it comes to the actual creation of content. The broadcaster’s news standards editor, Matt Brown, has explicitly warned staff against using AI platforms like ChatGPT or Midjourney to create news content. This creates a fascinating duality. The industry is happy to utilize AI to find the story or organize the data, but there is a deep-seated fear of using it to tell the story. When that line is crossed—as it was with the animation for “Legenda Bertuah”—the conversation shifts from productivity to replacement.

This internal conflict is a mirror of what we are seeing in the current creative landscape, where the desire for efficiency often clashes with the necessity of human oversight. The use of AI in animation isn’t just a technical shift. it is a socio-economic one that threatens to hollow out the middle class of the creative arts.

The Regulatory Void and the Failure of Guardrails

If the industry is struggling to find a moral compass, the government is struggling to provide a map. The lack of cohesive “guardrails” for AI is not just a local problem in the US, but a global systemic failure. A telling example comes from the Australian federal government. In 2024, former industry minister Ed Husic promised a permanent AI advisory body to ensure the technology remained safe. This body was funded via a $21.6 million package in the 2024 Budget.

However, the reality of the implementation was a bureaucratic disaster. It took 15 months to narrow a field of 270 AI experts down to 12 nominees, costing nearly $200,000. Just as the shortlist was finalized and documentation was being collected in February 2025, the entire body was suddenly scrapped. By August, the project was dead. Although the government later announced a replacement AI safety institute in December, costing $29.9 million, the delay is critical. Experts fear that these ongoing delays in regulation mean governments are missing a limited window to properly safeguard against AI harms.

For a professional in Los Angeles, this news is a warning. If a developed government can spend over a year and nearly $200,000 only to scrap its primary AI advisory body, the prospect of timely, effective AI regulation in the US feels even more distant. Without these guardrails, the “messed up” side of AI—the displacement of human animators and the erosion of intellectual property—is likely to accelerate.

Navigating the AI Shift in Los Angeles

Given my background in geo-journalism and industry analysis, the “cool vs. Messed up” debate will only intensify as AI tools become more accessible. If you are a creative professional or a studio owner in the Los Angeles area feeling the pressure of these shifts, you cannot rely on government bodies to provide the solution in time. You need a proactive strategy to protect your work and your career.

If this trend impacts your livelihood in the LA metro area, here are the three types of local professionals you should engage with to navigate this transition:

Intellectual Property (IP) Attorneys Specializing in AI

As AI-generated animation becomes more common, the legal definition of “authorship” is shifting. You need a legal expert who can help you draft contracts that explicitly protect your human-created assets from being used to train AI models without compensation. Look for attorneys who have a proven track record with the US Copyright Office and experience in the entertainment sector.

Creative Career Transition Coaches

For animators facing job displacement, the goal isn’t necessarily to fight the technology, but to pivot. Look for coaches who specialize in “AI-augmented creativity.” The ideal professional will help you transition from being a manual executor of frames to an AI director or a prompt engineer, ensuring you remain the “human in the loop” that the ABC’s Digital Product team emphasizes for responsible usage.

AI Integration Consultants for Boutique Studios

Small studios in LA can compete with giants if they use AI as a tool rather than a replacement. You need consultants who can implement “responsible AI” workflows—similar to the ABC Assist model—that enhance research and pre-production without sacrificing the artistic integrity of the final output. Ensure they prioritize human oversight and ethical sourcing of data.

Ready to find trusted professionals? Browse our complete directory of top-rated ai experts in the los angeles area today.