An Instagram account used AI to remake the acclaimed Argentine animated short El Empleo, drew more than five million views in under 24 hours, and removed the video after one of its directors objected, Cartoon Brew reported.
The account, Nightframe, had only around 16,000 followers when the 30-second knockoff went viral over the weekend. Neither Patricio Plaza nor Santiago Bou Grasso, who directed the 2008 original, was consulted before the remake was created or released.
The unauthorized remake reportedly attracted more than five million views in less than 24 hours, according to Cartoon Brew.
Plaza objected to his work being repurposed to promote a paid AI filmmaking service, and the account removed the video after he contacted them.
The operator said the original film had been credited and denied receiving any money, adding: “I occasionally share AI Film School’s content but have never received any compensation for doing so.”
The choice of source material carries a pointed irony.
The original took two years of hand-drawn work on paper, and it has accumulated millions of views and several top international festival awards over nearly two decades.
Nearly two decades later, the film itself was repurposed without permission to promote technology that promises to automate creative labor.
Did you know? El Empleo was released in 2008 and has accumulated millions of views plus several top international festival awards over nearly two decades — the AI knockoff matched a fraction of that viewership in a single day.
Was the AI remake of El Empleo taken down? Yes. Nightframe removed the unauthorized remake after co-creator Patricio Plaza contacted the account and objected.
How many views did the AI knockoff get? The 30-second video reportedly attracted more than five million views in under 24 hours, despite the account having only around 16,000 followers.
Did the Nightframe account make money from the video? The account operator denied receiving any compensation from the video or from AI Film School, but the account did not explain why the post included a prompt leading to a $49-per-month paid service.
Who created the original El Empleo? Patricio Plaza and Santiago Bou Grasso directed the 2008 Argentine animated short, and neither was consulted before the AI remake was created or released.
The account’s explanation for the paid-service prompt remains unexplained.
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