Where do you turn to in your free time? A movie, a book, a video game, a song? For ages, humans have looked for entertainment. For the past few decades, media corporations have controlled much of our entertainment from companies like Disney to Nintendo. These studios have created many endearing films, games, and more though circumstances have drastically changed in the post-pandemic world. With the internet and social media, we see people from across the world discussing news on entertainment—including people frustrated with current trends. One such trend is the onslaught of sequels and remakes, leading fans to believe these companies have lost their creative spark.
Many companies, including Disney, Paramount, Microsoft, and Ubisoft, have laid off workers as a result of company mergers and artificial intelligence. However, AI destroys what creativity really means. Real art can only be created by people with intention, care, and inspiration. AI has none of that. It only regurgitates the data it is trained on, often without the consent of human creators. This leads to soulless “slop” that fills social media algorithms and spreads false information.
When major companies have turned to AI, they are often blasted by the internet. For example, Disney has made an agreement with OpenAI so that Sora AI users may generate shorts of Disney characters, some of which may be used on Disney+. Losing the true and touching stories from Disney’s repertoire to slop like this is terrifying. If companies keep expanding into AI, what new people will there be to share meaningful artwork and stories?
Through social media, indie creators have a voice to share their art and creations, free from investors who only care about making themselves more money. Entertainment should not be an industry, for it is derived from honest work and talent, not greedy practices. For example, Glitch Productions, a major player in indie animation, has made waves with its shows like, Murder Drones and The Amazing Digital Circus. The latter, which is still in production, has so far received 408 million views on its pilot released in 2023 and over a billion views over its seven episodes so far on YouTube. Additionally, this can all be seen for free, without the subscriptions necessary for streaming—Glitch makes its money through ad revenue and merch. Glitch has other shows in development, including the recently-greenlit Knights of Guinevere, written by The Owl House creator Dana Terrace, who has been outspoken about her shaky relationship with Disney.
On the gaming side of things, indie developers at Team Cherry released “Hollow Knight: Silksong” last year, crashing every game store it was sold on. The sequel to their beloved 2017 “Hollow Knight” costs only $20, a steal compared to AAA games that can cost up to $80. Another example is Sandfall Interactive’s “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” 2025’s Game of the Year in addition to eight other awards, making it the most awarded game in the show’s history. It costs between $40 and $50, depending on what platform you buy it for.
Big industry entertainment will not go anywhere anytime soon, but they are in a slump following their poor decisions regarding AI and creative output as well as to how expensive their products are. Yes, there are individuals out there also scamming people with AI products, but if we support true creatives, we can show corporations just how meaningful true human artistic endeavors are. So go, use the internet. Use YouTube or Instagram or whatever social media you prefer. Find some creators out there. You might just find a new artist you enjoy. Or, if you are the creative type, put yourself out there with some of your own work. There are always people who would love to see it.
