The Shift in Entertainment: It's Not AI, It's Personal Choice

Inspired by the great Moroni Taylor

I recently came across a LinkedIn post by Moroni Taylor, a former co-worker, friend, and all-around brilliant and lovely dude, that hit home for me. It’s a perspective I couldn’t agree with more, and I believe it touches on something monumental happening in the entertainment industry—something that could reshape it in ways we haven’t seen in decades.

Moroni's post states: "AI is not killing the ANIMATION INDUSTRY, personal choice is."

We are at a crossroads, not unlike the pivotal moments in cinema history. A significant disruption as laid out in the fascinating book Pictures at a Revolution by Mark Harris, took place in 1967, when the film industry transitioned from classic, studio-driven narratives to a new era where personal expression and a more dynamic approach to filmmaking took center stage. This is when we saw a shift from The Sound of Music and Mary Poppins as the dominant films to The Graduate, Bonnie and Clyde, and It Happens One Night. This film introduced innovative storytelling elements and themes that marked a departure from traditional Hollywood films. These innovations addressed contemporary social issues, anti-establishment sentiments, complex characterizations, and narrative experimentation. By incorporating these elements, the 1967 Oscar-nominated Best Film nominees signaled a shift towards more daring and socially relevant filmmaking, paving the way for the New Hollywood era.

And this isn’t the only shift over the years. Think silent films to talkies and color film and how much VHS tapes, HBO, and other technology brought films out of the cinema and into our homes.

Now, we find ourselves at a similar juncture, and while many will point to artificial intelligence as the force driving change, I believe we’re missing the bigger picture. Yes, AI is certainly a tool incorporated into the industry, but it's not the driving force. The fundamental shift is happening because people are waking up to the power of personal choice.

A New Era of Choice

TV viewership has been plummeting for years, and it's no surprise. Networks once controlled the flow of entertainment, dictating what we watched, when we watched it, and how we consumed it. But as Moroni pointed out, we’ve reached a time when choice has become the most powerful force in entertainment. Social platforms like YouTube and TikTok have created a new kind of content landscape where viewers no longer rely on traditional networks to curate their entertainment.

I’ll be the first to admit, I’ve found myself watching some pretty odd things recently. Moroni mentions videos of cow hooves being trimmed to watching people feed chickens. My personal preference has been watching people build intricate, narrative-driven dioramas. While these aren’t “normal” content for all, but instead it is now just one part of a vast world of niche and diverse offerings. Why? Because now, I can watch whatever I want, whenever I want.

We’ve moved away from the idea of a "show" being a linear, pre-defined experience, and entered a world of limitless choices, where personal taste and curiosity drive consumption. And that’s where the entertainment industry is headed.

Animation as a Tool, Not Just a Genre

When we talk about animation, we’re not just talking about cartoons anymore. Animation is the most versatile medium for storytelling—one that can communicate complex ideas and concepts in ways that live-action simply can’t. Moroni mentions the US Army’s Private SNAFU cartoons from World War II, created by Dr. Seuss. These animated films were used as training tools to teach soldiers critical information—often in a way that stuck with them because of animation’s unique ability to make learning fun and memorable.

Today, the question isn't whether animation has a place in entertainment—it does. The real question is: How do we adapt animation to fit the new demands of an audience that wants to experience life in all its diverse forms? It’s no longer about creating “shows” in the traditional sense. It’s about offering an immersive, experiential world where viewers choose what they want to learn, experience, or vicariously live through.

Moroni’s point about animation’s flexibility to address any subject—whether that’s something as unique as hoof trimming or an entirely new concept—is key. The industry isn’t dying, it’s transforming into something that gives creators the power to make exactly what they want. The barrier has been broken. No longer do we need to make content for “everyone”—we make it for those who seek it.

The Changing Face of Content Creation

This shift in personal choice extends beyond animation—it’s impacting all creative industries. Today, a creator can find their audience regardless of how niche their subject matter is. The audience is there. Whether it’s art, animation, video games, or even just learning how to build a treehouse, we can now curate our own experiences. Social media platforms are enabling this, giving creators direct access to the people who are truly interested in what they have to offer.

This change is not about forcing people into one-size-fits-all content. It’s about freedom—freedom for creators to be authentic, to explore their passions, and to share their work with those who value it. This is the true revolution, not the technology, but the freedom of expression and choice that technology enables.

What’s Coming Next?

As I look at the state of the entertainment industry, I can’t help but feel that we are at the dawn of something even bigger. Just as the transition to sound or the rise of the New Hollywood era reshaped films, this new era will bring a wave of change that empowers both creators and consumers in ways we haven’t yet fully realized.

And if you think AI is the driver here, I challenge you to look deeper. AI is a tool—a very powerful tool—but it’s the shift in consumer behavior, the hunger for personalization and choice, that’s driving the real transformation. In the coming years, we will see a massive growth in platforms, tools, and content creation models that allow for more control over personal experience and creativity. The ones who succeed will be those who understand this fundamental shift and embrace it fully.

This isn’t just about surviving the next technological wave; it’s about understanding that the future of entertainment is a world where people choose what they want to experience, not what a studio or network tells them to. It’s a world where we, as creators, get to decide what our art does for the world—and more importantly, who it reaches.

---

The 3D Artist Community Updates

We are thrilled to have Anna Violette for our next AMA! Anna is a rockstar 3D Apparel Special and Solution Consultant with the Substance 3D Team at Adobe. Prior to joining Adobe, Anna's career path made stops at Under Armour, VF, and Vntana.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaviolette/

---

3D News of the Week

Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Holiday 2024 deals for CG artists - CG Channel

Access legacy Megascans on Bridge and Quixel.com - Unreal Engine Forum

Easily Create Vines in Unreal Engine 5 - LinkedIn

3D Artist Turned Photoscanned Vegetables Into UE5 Fantasy Landscape - 80.lv

Baking Gaussian Splatting into Diffusion Denoiser for Fast and Scalable Single-stage Image-to-3D Generation - Github

---

3D Merch is here and we have a new hoodie!

---

3D Tutorials

---

---

3D Job Spreadsheet

Link to Google Doc With A TON of Jobs in Animation (not operated by me)

---

Hello! Michael Tanzillo here. I am the Head of Technical Artists with the Substance 3D Growth team at Adobe. Previously, I was a Senior Artist on animated films at Blue Sky Studios/Disney with credits including three Ice Age movies, two Rios, Peanuts, Ferdinand, Spies in Disguise, and Epic.

In addition to his work as an artist, I am the Co-Author of the book Lighting for Animation: The Visual Art of Storytelling and the Co-Founder of The Academy of Animated Art, an online school that has helped hundreds of artists around the world begin careers in Animation, Visual Effects, and Digital Imaging. I also created The 3D Artist Community on Skool and this newsletter.

www.michaeltanzillo.com
Free 3D Tutorials on the Michael Tanzillo YouTube Channel

---

Thanks for reading The 3D Artist! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. All views and opinions are my own!