Filmmaker Jorge Gutierrez, known for directing 'The Book of Life,' has decided to step away from an artificial intelligence-driven series at Amazon. The director announced on social media Friday that he was withdrawing from the 'Punky Duck' series, which had been unveiled just two days earlier at Amazon's AI on the Lot event.
"I have decided to drop out of the AI program at Amazon. I will not be making a Punky Duck series. Actions speak louder than words," Gutierrez wrote. "My intent was to showcase artists, both new and seasoned, both inside and outside the studios, driving this new tech. My sincerest apology to those I upset. I promise to do better moving forward. Thank you for your patience with me. I will try harder," he added in the Instagram post.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gutierrez was the highest-profile director associated with a project emerging from Amazon's new GenAI Creators Fund. His Punky Duck series was set to follow "a lovable punk duck and his best friend, Smiley Cat" as they "tear through a wildly exaggerated Los Angeles, hilariously stumbling into alien invasions, giant monsters, robot criminal conspiracies, telenovela-style family drama, and supernatural mayhem--all while trying (and usually failing) to do the right thing."
Gutierrez's decision follows criticism from another creator whose work was linked to the initiative. On Wednesday, Loryn Brantz, creator of Buzzfeed Studios' Good Advice Cupcake, slammed the company for partnering with Amazon on a generative AI series adaptation of her creation. She said she was "horrified and disgusted by BuzzFeed taking my character, The Good Advice Cupcake, and giving it to an AI platform."
Gutierrez had hinted at reconsidering his involvement in a social media post on Thursday, telling followers he had "lots of information that I'm digesting wholeheartedly" amid backlash to his association with the GenAI Creators Fund.
