AI Animation Fails to Convince in Historical Documentary, Critic Says

Artificial intelligence animation, despite significant investment, remains unconvincing and fails to accurately depict historical subjects, according to a review of the Channel 5 documentary 'The Victorians'.

In an episode featuring presenters Rob Rinder and Ruth Goodman, AI was used to generate images of ancestors at work and play. One scene depicted a railway line under construction with numerous laborers, while another showed a crowded beach. The critic described these visuals as "utterly unconvincing," comparing them to a toy kaleidoscope pattern rather than a realistic depiction.

The generated images were found to be distracting, drawing attention away from the historical narrative. The review noted that close-ups of faces generated by AI appeared "slightly off" in lighting, focus, and movement, lacking a sense of life.

"If this is the best AI can do, we don’t have to worry about this slop taking over the world," the critic wrote. "The most it can achieve is to make television a little bit worse."

Conversely, the presenters were found to be more engaging when relying on traditional historical research. This included examining 180-year-old documents to recount the story of the railway boom in the 1840s and the subsequent stock market crash. The episode highlighted figures like financier George Hudson, who was celebrated for his role in building Britain's first railway network.

Details of lavish parties hosted by Hudson were shared, with Rinder commenting on the social events. The fashion of the era, including the attire of Hudson's wife, Elizabeth, was also noted, with a guest's critical description of her appearance being recalled.

The documentary is part of Channel 5's "Rich Lives, Poor Lives" series. The episode touched upon the hardships faced by the Victorian working class, emphasizing that the nation's wealth was built upon their labor. It was noted that the laborers, known as navvies, building the railway tunnels often consumed large quantities of beer, with some reportedly drinking over 30 pints a day to sustain themselves.