Why Marvel's Secret Invasion Has An AI-Made opening

In the past year, AI has become a controversial topic when coming into the artistic landscape. Programs and services like Midjourney have already been used for political cartoons and book cover designs, but now Marvel has used AI to create the intro for its new Secret Invasion series on Disney+.

The intro hits hard with its theme of shape-shifting people, going back and forth from Skrull to human, in a barrage of dark and light greens. It's full of weird and alien shapes, and while it might be too on the nose with something to say about trying to be human, but that is specifically the intent.

"We would talk to them about ideas and themes and words, and then the computer would go off and do something," Secret Invasion director Ali Selim told Polygon. "And then we could change it a little bit by using words, and it would change."

Selim was fascinated with how AI could translate the sense of foreboding and themes he wanted for the series. "When we reached out to the AI vendors, that was part of it...it just came right out of the shape-shifting, Skrull world identity, you know? Who did this? Who is this?" he added.

The intro was designed by Method Studios, the company behind other Marvel shows like Ms. Marvel, Loki, and Moon Knight. They also provided art for the Game of Thrones "Battle of the Bastards" episode and Apple TV's For All Mankind Seasons 2 and 3.

In the past, Marvel has used actual Marvel artists like David Mack to provide closing credit sequences, and it's unclear if this is the first and last time it does something like this.