South Park enthusiasts find themselves in a split opinion as a Berlin-based artificial intelligence (AI) artist, known as "demonflyingfox," unveils a "creepy" deepfake rendition of the animated characters placed in an Eighties sitcom setting.
Using deepfake technology, the artist transformed Eric Cartman, Kyle Broflovski, Stan Marsh, and Kenny McCormick into what they might look like if portrayed by real actors in a live-action sitcom, now in its 27th season.
The YouTube video, which has resurfaced on Reddit, features deepfake versions of characters like Mr. Mackey delivering his iconic "drugs are bad" dialogue, Stan's father Randy Marsh, fourth-grader Timmy Burch, and Mr. Garrison. Deepfakes involve digitally manipulating photos and videos using AI or machine learning.
Reactions to the video were varied, with some users finding the deepfake versions "creepy and weird," while others praised the accuracy, noting that characters like Randy, Stan, and Mr. Slave were "absolutely spot on." A sarcastic comment suggested making the characters blink more to make them "less creepy."
However, a more nuanced criticism pointed out details that weren't accurate, such as Kenny's hair color and attire. One viewer expressed an "oddly unnerving" feeling, noting the realism of the faces that "look real, move around, but don't really exist."
The artist, "demonflyingfox," shared the deepfake images on Instagram, where one observer remarked that the characters appeared "old and young at the same time."
This endeavor follows a trend of AI-generated art, with "demonflyingfox" previously reimagining Harry Potter characters as Balenciaga models, crafting a French version of Batman's iconic villain The Joker, and creating an all-female cast of Breaking Bad characters, including Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.
It's worth noting that last year, an American company developed an AI tool, AI Showrunner, allowing users to generate their own South Park episodes based on a brief prompt. Despite its capabilities, the tool is not slated for public release, as the company aims to avoid profiting from it.
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