‘I Can’t Believe We’ve Reached a Point Where I Have to Clarify This’ — Director of Marathon Cinematic Short Expresses Disbelief He Has to Defend It as ‘Not AI’
In a recent development surrounding Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter, *Marathon*, director Alberto Mielgo has publicly defended the cinematic short from accusations of being created using generative AI. The eight-minute film, which features a talented voice cast including Elias Toufexis and Ben Starr, serves as a prelude to the game and showcases Mielgo’s distinct artistic vision. Known for his work on Netflix’s *Love, Death & Robots* and the Oscar-winning short *The Windshield Wiper*, Mielgo expressed his disbelief on Instagram, stating, “I can’t believe we’ve reached a point where I have to clarify this, but here it goes: this is not AI.” He emphasized the extensive effort that went into the project, noting that it required 155 staff members and countless hours of work to create the detailed animations and artwork that viewers see.
The rise of generative AI technology has blurred the lines between traditional animation and AI-generated content, leaving audiences confused about the origins of various media. Mielgo’s assertion highlights a growing concern within the creative community about the potential for AI to overshadow human artistry. He articulated his belief that AI could never replace the intrinsic joy and drive that artists have for creating, stating, “AI will never take away my (your) urge or joy for making art and painting.” This sentiment reflects a broader discussion in the industry, where artists grapple with the implications of AI on their craft and the authenticity of their work. The conversation has been further fueled by controversies such as the deepfake technology that has drawn criticism from various celebrities, including Keanu Reeves, who actively combats unauthorized imitations of his likeness online.
Additionally, *Marathon* has faced its own set of challenges since its announcement, including a recent delay from a planned September 2025 release to 2026, as Bungie adjusts the game based on player feedback. This postponement comes at a critical time for the studio, which is under pressure to deliver a successful title following disappointing sales and engagement metrics for *Destiny 2*, leading to a significant financial impact on parent company Sony. As anticipation builds for *Marathon*, Mielgo’s passionate defense of the cinematic short not only underscores the dedication of the creative team but also raises important questions about the future of art in an increasingly AI-driven world.
The director of the
Marathon
reveal cinematic short has expressed his disbelief that he feels forced to come out and defend the work as “not AI.”
The Marathon cinematic short, below, is over eight minutes long and sets the scene for Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter with a voice cast that includes the likes of Elias Toufexis and Ben Starr. It was written and directed by Alberto Mielgo, who created The Witness for Netflix’s Love, Death & Robots, and won an Oscar for The Windshield Wiper in 2022.
In an
Instagram post
, Mielgo hit out at those who accused the Marathon cinematic of being built using generative AI, insisting it took 155 staff months to put together.
“I can’t believe we’ve reached a point where I have to clarify this, but here it goes: this is not AI,” Mielgo said. “HELLO. Everything you see in this film: paintings, animations, 2D and 3D work, compositing, and renders done with huge team — 155 incredible people and hell of hours, days, months… Yes, our Achilles’ heel: time.”
He continued: “Many of you ask me what my opinion on AI is… Honestly, I have no idea. But one thing is certain: AI will never take away my (your) urge or joy for making art and painting. That part will never be replaced.”
As technology improves, it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell the difference between videos created via generative AI prompts and traditional animation efforts. And with a lack of legislation forcing generative AI disclaimers onto output, audiences are left to try to work it out themselves.
The issue over what is generative AI and what isn’t has spilled over into the realm of deepfakes, too, with a number of celebrities hitting out at the technology. In July, it was reported that
John Wick star Keanu Reeves pays a company a few thousand dollars a month to get the likes of TikTok and Meta to take down imitators
.
Meanwhile, Mielgo appears to have also addressed
the Marathon plagiarism controversy that rocked Bungie
earlier this year.
The Game Post
reported that Mielgo replied to one Instagram comment to say the incident was overblown, but those comments are now deleted.
Marathon has certainly endured a troubled development. After having a September 2025 release date set (the cinematic was released when this release date was still planned), Bungie delayed the game into 2026 to make adjustments based on feedback from playtests.
The pressure is indeed on Marathon to succeed amid Destiny 2’s high-profile struggles. Earlier this month, parent company
Sony said the studio had failed to meet its sales and user engagement targets, resulting in a $200 million impairment charge
.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
