Voice of Disney Mascot: AI Can’t Replace Mickey Mouse

Aw, gosh! The guy who voices Disney’s mascot, Mickey Mouse, says that although the technology behind artificial intelligence definitely is interesting, it could never capture the soul of Mickey Mouse. As part of Disney’s impending 100th anniversary celebration, AFP talked with animators, archivists, and Bret Iwan, the voice of Mickey, about the company’s history, present, and future, including the promise of AI — a subject that is presently dividing Hollywood — and the company’s plans for the future. “Gosh, I would say, of course, there’s amazing technology being developed with AI, and it’s so impressive,” remarked Iwan.

The heart of a character, and more crucially, the heart of narrative, cannot, in my opinion, be replaced by anything.

This summer, artificial intelligence has been a regular cause of concern in Hollywood due to the danger it presents to careers in the entertainment business.

AFP paid a visit to Disney’s huge studio in the vicinity of Los Angeles when authors were still on strike, in part because to concerns that AI would eventually replace them.

Hollywood actors who are concerned about AI duplicating their voices and likenesses and who may go on strike as soon as Thursday are also negotiating this demand.

However, according to Iwan, narrative and character development are “unique to a performer, a writer, an animator, an artist, a creator.”

“I have to believe that part is what’s going to hold out, and keep real people doing the job for a while!”

Only four persons have ever had the formal role of Mickey’s voice, including Iwan.

Walt Disney, the creator of the corporation, initially gave Mickey’s falsetto voice in 1928’s “Steamboat Willie.” Over three decades, the role was voiced by two distinct individuals.

Iwan pointed to his voice chords and remarked, “I hope I get to do it as long as this holds out.”

achieving realism

The use of powerful computers in animation, which is perhaps the art form most closely identified with Disney, is a well-established practice.

The predominant form of the genre, computer-generated animation, has long supplanted conventional hand-drawn artwork.

The employment of AI to construct the credits for the Disney+ series “Secret Invasion” has caused controversy, despite the fact that people are still planning and making such films.

Disney animator Eric Goldberg, a steadfast supporter of hand-drawn animation and the creator of the Genie in “Aladdin,” thinks AI is unlikely to have an influence on his work.

“I think AI has less of a chance of affecting hand-drawn animation than it does computer animation, because AI is about replicating realism,” he said.

“The Genie’s head may transform into a toaster in the characters I create! Which an AI character can’t accomplish!”

“Hand-drawn thus gives us a slight advantage in that regard.”

There will always, in Goldberg’s opinion, “be a core of us who want to see hand-drawn animation.” Goldberg just completed teaching five new Disney hand-drawn apprentices.

“I don’t think AI will be a problem to that side of the medium because we have to use our imaginations so much to represent hand-drawn characters, because of the flexibility of what they can do,” added Goldberg.

“As long as there are still people out there who want to do it!”