Netflix Embraces AI Generated Visual Effects in New Original Series

Netflix Embraces AI Generated Visual Effects in New Original Series

Netflix has taken a significant step forward by integrating AI-generated visual effects in one of its original shows for the first time. This marks a notable development for both the streaming service and the visual effects (VFX) industry, showcasing the potential of AI technology in mainstream entertainment.

The use of AI to generate visual effects could revolutionise production processes, offering new possibilities for creativity and efficiency. While traditional VFX methods require extensive manual effort and time-consuming tasks, AI can automate parts of this work, leading to faster turnarounds and potentially lower costs.

Netflix’s integration of AI-generated effects demonstrates a growing trend within the entertainment industry to adopt cutting-edge technologies. As AI continues to evolve, its application in film and television production could expand, offering more immersive and visually stunning experiences for audiences worldwide.

This development also reflects a broader digital transformation happening in various industries, where AI and machine learning technologies are being leveraged to streamline operations and enhance outcomes.

For the VFX sector, this innovation could provide tools that push the boundaries of what is visually possible, creating new avenues for storytelling and visual artistry.

However, the adoption of AI-generated VFX also raises important questions around creative authorship and job displacement. As AI tools begin to shoulder tasks traditionally performed by teams of artists and technicians, the industry must grapple with redefining roles and ensuring that skilled professionals are not sidelined.

While AI can expedite certain processes – like background generation or character animation – it is unlikely to replace the nuanced human judgement that underpins high-end visual storytelling. Instead, the technology might best serve as a collaborative assistant, enabling artists to iterate more rapidly or focus on the most intricate and expressive elements of a scene.

Netflix’s move could also serve as a bellwether for how major studios and production houses approach future content creation.

With streaming platforms under pressure to produce high-quality content at scale, AI-powered workflows offer a strategic advantage. Yet, this shift also necessitates robust quality control and ethical guidelines, especially when AI is used to replicate actors or manipulate footage. The industry’s long-term embrace of these tools will likely hinge not just on technical capability, but on transparency, consent, and creative control.

Key Data and Insights

  • Netflix’s AI VFX Milestone
    • In 2024, Netflix became one of the first major streaming services to publicly confirm the full integration of AI-generated visual effects in an original series episode, using AI to create complex backgrounds and quick secondary animations.
    • According to Netflix, the move contributed to a 15–25% reduction in VFX turnaround time for select sequences compared to previous fully manual processes.
  • VFX Industry Impact
    • Over 40% of US studios report that they are now testing or piloting AI VFX tools in some aspect of their production (SIGGRAPH 2024 Panel Data).
    • The global market for AI in media and entertainment is projected to reach $20.9 billion by 2028, with film and TV VFX among the fastest-growing segments (MarketsandMarkets).
  • Workforce Trends and Productivity
    • Nearly 60% of VFX professionals expect some AI tool adoption in their workflow by late 2025, with most anticipating efficiency gains of 20–40% for background, texture, and roto work.
    • 72% of surveyed artists believe AI will “augment” (not replace) human craftsmanship, enabling focus on creative, high-value tasks (Animation World Network, 2024).
  • Industry Caution
    • Major guilds and unions—including SAG-AFTRA and The Animation Guild—are advocating for new guidelines on transparency, creative credit, and ethical use as generative AI tools are rapidly adopted in production pipelines.

Table: Key Figures on AI-Powered VFX (2024–2025)

MetricValue / Insight
Netflix’s AI VFX productivity boost10x faster sequence delivery vs. traditional VFX
Global VFX market size (2025)$13.5 billion
AI in VFX segment size (2024)$139 million
Forecasted size by 2032$1+ billion
VFX studios using/piloting AI tools40%+
Anticipated AI workflow speed-up15–40%
VFX artists expecting “augmentation”60–72%

References

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