Huffingtonpost iconHuffingtonpostSep 7, 2026 ~5 min source read

Danny Boyle Admits to Using Generative AI for 30 Seconds in Ink; Fans Respond with Disappointment

Boyle says AI helped animate photos and create mice in his new film Ink. His comments prompted social media criticism about job losses for animators and other film crew.

Fans Voice 'Disappointment' As Danny Boyle Confirms AI Use In His New Film Ink

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Useful takeaways from this story.

Danny Boyle confirmed approximately 30 seconds of generative AI appear in Ink, used to animate a few photographs and to create mice on screen.

Boyle framed AI as a useful VFX tool when used 'respectfully' and raised payment as a condition if AI replaces actors.

Boyle referenced past concerns about using live animals — citing PETA's response to chimps in 28 Days Later — as context for preferring digital animals.

The useful part

Danny Boyle's Use Of AI In New Film Ink 'Disappoints' Fans | HuffPost UK Entertainment Skip to Main Content × Main Menu U.K. "It's very good for animals." 'Ink' director Danny Boyle shares his thoughts about the use of AI in film. "I got in trouble with [the animal rights organisation] PETA – we had some chimps at the beginning of 28 Days Later, and they wrote to me and said, 'you must never do that again'.

How it works

  • This is incredibly disappointing, especially for one of my favourite working directors..
  • Michael Ashton (@mikael_trashton) September 5, 2026 "You pay actors if you're going to replace them..." Did he chip in anything for any animators who lost work?.
  • prawnimation (@Prawnimation) September 7, 2026 So a vfx company lost a week of work animating some mice and small photographs.
  • admitting to making the choice not to pay someone to animate is somehow even more annoying when it's an extremely wealthy guy saying it https://t.co/RHMC21njDe.
  • During a recent interview with Variety, the 28 Years Later director was asked for how he feels about the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the film industry, to which he responded: "It doesn't...

What to take from it

Within that village, there are truth tellers who aren't popular sometimes because what they say is unpopular. Advertisement As a result, as you might imagine, Danny's comments have generated a lot of debate on social media. Glenn Charlie Dunks (@glenndunks) September 6, 2026 Advertisement I love Danny Boyle, and I think he's made some really good movies over the years, but him doing this has really disappointed me..

Example or evidence

  • zoë rose bryant (@zoerosebryant) September 5, 2026 Well, never mind then.
  • laurinha 🦠 (@ecto_fun) September 6, 2026 it shouldn't only matter if actors lose their jobs.
  • think of the graphic designers, the set designers, vfx, makeup, all the people directors often take for granted, why do their jobs not matter to you?
  • greg house apologist🇵🇸 (@transgreghouse) September 6, 2026 Advertisement Danny Boyle drinking the AI Kool-Aid is so disappointing..

Details worth keeping

What's Hot Danny Boyle at the Venice Film Festival last week via Associated Press Oscar-winning filmmaker Danny Boyle has sparked a lot of conversation on social media after admitting that his new film Ink makes use of generative AI. It matters what 20-year-olds think about it, [that's] the honest truth. VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) September 5, 2026 Advertisement "Oh!

Related coverage

  • Geektyrant: <img data-stretch="false" data-image="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/51b3dc8ee4b051b96ceb10de/80989159-d552-471b-ad09-c5edaaacec4a/Danny+Boyle+Confirms+He+Used+AI+in+His+New+Movie+INK.jpg"...
  • Petapixel: The director Danny Boyle has taken the unusual step of admitting that he used generative AI on his latest movie, Ink. [ Read More ]
  • Thewrap: The director says he used the technology to "animate a couple of old photographs" and create digital mice
  • Variety: On Tuesday afternoon, Danny Boyle's "Ink," about the rise of U.K.

More context around this story.

Danny Boyle Confirms He Used AI in His New Movie INK
Geektyrant iconGeektyrantSep 7, 2026

Danny Boyle Confirms He Used AI in His New Movie INK

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