Showrunners behind Secret Invasion have revealed that the series’ title sequence was created using artificial intelligence (AI).
If you’ve not seen the new Marvel show, the title features lurid green images that twist and warp as audiences get their first glimpse of the villainous Skrull.
Though producers have said the sequence plays into the series’ themes, some people have hit back at the decision.
Given that the show has Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman, Emilia Clarke (aka the mother of Dragons) and Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role as Nick Fury, there’s been an insane amount of hype around the Secret Invasion’s production.
The comic book adaption will follow the former head of S.H.I.E.L.D as he tries to learn more about a secret invasion by the Skrull.
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With the shapeshifters seamlessly blending into humanity, it’s up to the veteran agent to stop them from assuming positions of power throughout the world.
Rather cleverly, the Marvel show’s titles parallel this with the abstract paintings of the Skrull shifting and morphing through the sequence.
It’s pretty eerie, with showrunner Ali Selim revealing the design was created by Method Studio – who used AI to design the uncanny images.
He told Polygon: “When we reached out to the AI vendors, that was part of it — it just came right out of the shape-shifting, Skrull world identity, you know? Who did this? Who is this?”
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Though the director admits he doesn’t really ‘understand’ the clever tech, he felt like it could translate the foreboding with Secret Invasion.
“We would talk to them about ideas and themes and words, and then the computer would go off and do something,” he added: “And then we could change it a little bit by using words, and it would change.”
“It felt explorative and inevitable, and exciting, and different.”
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Not everyone has been impressed with the new approach to design, including Teen Wolf director, Stephen Ford.
In a heated tweet, he heavily criticised Selim’s decision, saying it ‘overshadowed’ the work of designers in the industry.
Tagging the Disney+ director, Ford wrote: “Marvel/Disney have infinite money yet used AI for the Secret Invasion opening credits. A slap in the face to literally every artist Disney has ever worked with & something that overshadows the hard work everyone did on this show.”
Meanwhile, Method Studio has refused to reveal exactly how they made the sequence for Secret Invasion.
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The company has previously worked on Marvel shows, including Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel and Loki.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Film and TV, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Samuel L Jackson, Technology, Disney Plus
Katherine Sidnell