Quote of the day by filmmaker Tim Burton: ‘It’s like a robot taking your… is attracting attention across the tech world. Analysts, enthusiasts, and industry observers are watching closely to see how this story develops.
This update adds another signal to a fast-moving sector where product decisions, platform changes, and competition can quickly shape the market.
Many now use AI to create media that borrows from famous artistic styles, but filmmakers find it demoralizing
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Generative AI is capable of some astonishing feats, with image and video generators, in particular, capable of creating stunning visual scenes based on text-based instructions. Plenty of the images you can generate, however, steal the distinctive styles of iconic artists – and many of these artists aren’t best pleased.
Filmmaker Tim Burton, who created heavily stylistic films like Edward Scissorhands and The Nightmare Before Christmas, was among several artists whose iconic styles were showcased in AI-generated images.

This article is part of TechRadar Pro’s QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the tech innovation industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.
BuzzFeed used AI to show us what iconic Disney movies would look like if they were directed by various filmmakers, with a series of garish and creepy results.
Burton, responding to the feature, told the Independent that seeing his own artistry imitated was akin to some cultures believing that capturing your image with a camera takes something away from your soul.
These comments also tap into the debate as to whether media generated by AI can ever be considered ‘original’ or ‘creative’ – or if they’re simply crude averages.
Burton’s viewpoint mimics the thoughts of the iconic Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki, the mind behind Studio Ghibli hits such as My Neighbour Totoro.

“You can make horrible things if you want but I want nothing to do with it. It’s an awful insult to life,” Miyazaki said in response to learning an illustrator was using AI to aid with his work on Boro the Caterpillar.
But AI has increasingly infiltrated the creative industries, with several major studios finding ways to use AI in the production process, but also on-screen elements, such as in the case of Lionsgate’s partnership with Runway AI.
Despite the warning from filmmakers, the trend continues, with the likes of studio A24 also partnering with Google to build AI-powered filmmaking tools.
Why This Matters
This development may influence user expectations, future product strategy, and the competitive balance inside the broader technology industry.
Companies in adjacent segments often react quickly to similar moves, which is why stories like this tend to matter beyond a single announcement.
Looking Ahead
The full impact will become clearer over time, but the story already highlights how quickly the modern tech landscape can evolve.
Observers will continue tracking the next steps and how they affect products, users, and the wider market.