Berlin, Germany – Fans of the popular animated show “South Park” are expressing mixed opinions about a deepfake recreation of the beloved characters as real people in an Eighties sitcom. The Berlin-based artificial intelligence (AI) artist known as “demonflyingfox” used deepfake technology to imagine what characters like Eric Cartman, Kyle Broflovski, Stan Marsh, and Kenny McCormick would look like if portrayed by real actors in a live-action sitcom, which is currently in its 27th season.
In addition to the main characters, the AI artist also created real-life versions of other well-known characters from the show, such as Mr. Mackey, Stan’s father Randy Marsh, fourth-grader Timmy Burch, and Mr. Garrison. The deepfake creations were showcased in a YouTube video that resurfaced on Reddit.
Deepfakes, which involve digitally altered photos and videos using AI or machine learning, have become increasingly popular. The YouTube video featuring the deepfake versions of the “South Park” characters received diverse reactions from viewers. Some users found the deepfake versions to be “creepy and weird,” while others praised the accuracy of the recreations.
One user sarcastically commented, “Yeah, make them blink, that will make them less creepy, for sure,” referring to the characters continuously blinking throughout the entire video. Another user expressed a more nuanced critique, stating, “Randy, Stan, and Mr. Slave are absolutely spot on. As much as I want to like Kenny, it botched too many details – he’s supposed to have blond hair and wear a parka, not a hoodie.”
While some viewers found the deepfakes impressive, others described the experience as “oddly unnerving.” One commenter shared, “Just the fact that these faces that look real, and move around but don’t really exist gives me this weird creepy feeling.” The artist “demonflyingfox” also shared the images on Instagram, with one observer noting that the deepfake characters appeared both old and young simultaneously.
This isn’t the first time “South Park” has ventured into the realm of AI. Last year, an American company developed an AI tool called “AI Showrunner” that allowed users to create their own episodes of the long-running cartoon series. The tool was capable of generating an entire episode, including animating, voice acting, and editing, based on just a one or two-sentence prompt provided by the user. However, the company stated that the tool was solely for research purposes and would not be released to the public for profit.
“demonflyingfox” is known for creating AI-generated art and has previously reimagined characters from various franchises. Some of the artist’s notable works include Harry Potter characters as Balenciaga models, a French version of the iconic Batman villain The Joker, and an all-female cast of “Breaking Bad,” featuring characters like Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.
The deepfake recreation of the “South Park” characters has ignited discussions among fans and AI enthusiasts alike, highlighting both the creative possibilities and the potentially unsettling nature of deepfake technology. While opinions may differ, the artwork serves as a testament to the power of AI in transforming familiar faces into new and unexpected forms of artistic expression.