AI Art Webtoons are terrible. (I found another one)
Entertainment
Introduction
Recently, I was directed to a medieval fantasy furry webtoon called Wolfbane, currently struggling with extremely low ratings on Webtoon Canvas. This platform is typically where new artists hone their skills and develop their craft. However, Wolfbane exists almost completely apart from the usual learning curve, being a product of AI-generated artwork and awkward storytelling.
For a substantial amount of time, I tried to provide AI art the benefit of the doubt, believing it could potentially serve as a resource for burgeoning artists to learn the fundamentals of design. However, my experience with Wolfbane has led me to conclude that I was mistaken in that belief.
First Impressions and Art Quality
At first glance, the story opens with generic anthropomorphized wolves, adorned with cringe-worthy names akin to those found in mediocre DeviantArt fanfiction. The character designs are horrendously inconsistent, changing from panel to panel—an inherent flaw due to the use of AI prompts to generate these characters. On the initial few pages, it's painfully obvious that the art is distractingly subpar.
When observing the characters, one may notice that their facial features are unrecognizably inconsistent across panels. One character may appear in one style, while in the very next, they could look like a low-budget Disney knockoff. Moreover, in a comical yet confusing instance, a character appears to blush after being stabbed, leading to an unintentional comedic effect.
Other notable issues include the erratic application of armor on characters and shifting backgrounds that entirely change their tones and vibes between panels. All this creates the appearance of characters engaging in conversation at wildly different times of the day, contributing to a story that feels incoherent at best.
Paneling and Storytelling Flaws
One cannot discuss Wolfbane without addressing its specific approach to paneling— or rather, the complete lack thereof. The comic comprises randomly generated images awkwardly assembled with little regard for storytelling conventions. The dialogue feels shoehorned in as if the creator hoped to stitch together a narrative out of disjointed images.
The speech bubbles contribute further to the visual chaos, as their colored and opaque style makes them nearly impossible to read against the overly detailed backgrounds. This seems to be another instance of the technical shortcomings of AI art—its inability to create coherent, readable dialogue in a comic format.
The Lacking Narrative
If one were to summarize the plot of Wolfbane, it could be described as a muddled tale of anthropomorphic wolves battling necromantic monsters. But without richer detail, readers are left with the impression of a storyline that resembles a juvenile roleplay instead of a well-constructed narrative.
It begs the question: what can one genuinely gain from a comic like this? When placed alongside exemplary webtoons created by actual artists, the stark contrast not only highlights the deficiencies of AI-generated storytelling but also underscores the importance of personal artistic development.
The Role of AI Art in Comic Creation
While there are artists using AI art as a supplementary tool—designing creatures and scenes or optimizing their workflow—examples like Wolfbane show the potential pitfalls of using AI without artistic intention or skill. Properly integrating AI art into a workflow requires a level of artistic proficiency that many creators utilizing AI lack.
In conclusion, I have come to view AI art in a more critical light. It is apparent that only seasoned artists should have the liberty to utilize AI art programs, as doing so with a lack of skill results in works like Wolfbane, devoid of creativity and coherence. The art form deserves better than this soulless product.
Keywords
- AI Art
- Webtoon
- Wolfbane
- Medieval Fantasy
- Furry
- Inconsistent Art
- Storytelling
- Dialogue
- Comic Canvas
FAQ
Q: What is Wolfbane?
A: Wolfbane is a medieval fantasy furry webtoon currently hosted on Webtoon Canvas that utilizes AI-generated artwork.
Q: What are the main criticisms of Wolfbane?
A: The primary issues involve inconsistent character designs, jarring storytelling, and poorly executed dialogue presentation, leading to a disjointed reading experience.
Q: Can AI art be beneficial for artists?
A: Yes, AI art can serve as a supplemental tool for experienced artists to enhance their workflow, but it often falls short when used by those lacking artistic skills.
Q: What is the general sentiment towards AI art in this review?
A: The review expresses a critical stance towards AI art, indicating that it should mainly be used by skilled artists to avoid producing nonsensical and incoherent works.
