The Creator

Client: 20th Century Studios

Set in the year 2055, a dystopian future where a war between humans and artificial intelligence has ravaged the world. The Creator explores the complexities of human nature and the dangers of unchecked technology.

On his military mission the film's protagonist, Joshua, encounters a young girl named Alphie — an AI-being in the form of an innocent child. As Alphie holds the key to ending the war, Joshua does what he can to protect her. In two scenes, Alphie is found watching Akira-style 80s anime, one example of director Gareth Edwards paying homage to the 1988 cult classic.

Anime Creation: Territory was commissioned to concept, create, and animate this original anime content — a fascinating creative challenge blending retro aesthetic with futuristic narrative purpose.

The anime serves a narrative role reflecting Alphie's childlike innocence. The deliberate use of cartoons emphasises the contrast between her pure perspective and the harsh realities of the war around her. A deeper analysis also uncovers a political dimension: the anime content contains AI propaganda, raising questions about the impact of biased information on AI learning and the ethical complexities of shaping an artificial mind.