Uncrowned Guard

AI art is honestly a bit torn for me. I can’t ignore that there are people putting a lot of work, skill, and time into learning how to prompt, refine, and shape AI art; and most casual users can’t replicate what those folks do. It gives people who don’t have traditional artistic talent a way to express ideas visually, and I feel like that part gets brushed aside way too often. In a lot of ways, it reminds me of how people used to say graphic design “wasn’t real art” because it wasn’t done on a physical canvas. Today, everyone accepts graphic design, CAD work, and other technical mediums as legitimate art forms. I see AI art fitting into that same evolution as it is far more than 30-second prompts. But you also can’t ignore the bad side. Tracing, stealing, and copying have always existed in art, but AI adds several new layers to that problem. And realistically, most AI art isn’t being made for artistic expression; it’s being used for cheap promo graphics, fake images, misinformation, labor replacement, and other purposes that don’t really respect the idea of art at all. So yes, I do think AI art can be art, and I do think the people who genuinely create with it can be artists. The issue is that while traditional art has a few bad apples, AI art feels more like a barrel of bad apples with a few good ones mixed in; and that imbalance causes a lot of friction. And then there’s the ethics. The companies behind these tools have absolutely devastated copyright norms, data ownership, and public trust. Artists didn’t consent to having their work scraped, and while the companies may hold the legal high ground, it doesn’t change the fact that they built highly profitable systems by exploiting centuries of human creativity. That was a choice, not a necessity, and I fully understand why so many artists are angry about it.

I was going to make a jokey post about how it’s obviously Goku, but once you mentioned Tucker from Fullmetal Alchemist, that pretty much sealed it for me. Tucker is on a whole different level of awful.

Idk, I actually think it’s kind of nice seeing anime culture, collabs, and events popping up in places you’d never imagine years ago. It’s wild how mainstream it’s become, but in a good way; the reach is bigger, the budgets are bigger, and the variety of shows is bigger. And I’m really not sold on the idea that “the mainstream didn’t like Sora, so NGNL didn’t continue.” That’s just not how it went. No Game No Life got wrapped up in a plagiarism case, and the staff basically admitted wrongdoing. After that, the studio said they were open to exploring other possibilities with the IP, but not continuing the direct work. That’s a huge legal wall. To make a new season, they’d need rights, approvals, and cooperation from the original creator, and with a plagiarism admission on record, that’s a nightmare. It’s not happening, and it has basically zero to do with public opinion. Honestly, the legal side killed NGNL way more than any fan take ever could.

Welcome to Anime Forums! @neilkamen

I can only really speak from the listener/watcher side since I don’t make content at conventions, but crowd noise is definitely hit or miss for me. If the noise starts drowning out the interview or commentary, I’m out and looking for a different video. But having some background noise actually helps; it keeps the clip feeling alive and reminds you it’s a real event, not a sterile studio recording. Background music can work too, but it’s basically a copyright strike waiting to happen. The real challenge is removing the noise. Getting clean, isolated audio is tough, especially for smaller creators who don’t have access to high‑end gear. Post‑production cleanup tools can help, but they’re not magic; sometimes they make the audio sound overprocessed or artificial. The “proper” solution is usually expensive mics designed for crowded environments, but that’s a big investment and not always realistic. So I think balance is key. Reduce as much noise as you reasonably can without hurting the natural feel of the clip. Keep it clear enough to understand, but don’t stress about making it studio‑perfect. Easier said than done, but that’s the reality for most creators working in loud convention spaces.

Some probably AI D&D song.

Not a whole lot for me lately. I actually re‑downloaded Forza Motorsport because I’ve been in the mood for a racing game, but I still haven’t gotten around to actually playing it yet. One of those “I want to play something… but not right now” situations. Hopefully, I’ll finally fire it up soon.

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Welcome to AF! Glad to have you here. Hope you settle in and find some fun discussions to jump into.

My morning coffee, now making some spicy ramen for lunch.

I keep hoping for tier 2 belts. I don't think we are getting tier 2 belts. Otherwise, it was Going Medeviel.

Satisfactory, getting ready for 1.2!

Been jumping between Satisfactory and Arknights Endfield.