Key points
- A K-pop teaser allegedly AI-cloned the Gobelins student film Niccolò; Gobelins publicly backed its six alumni and threatened legal action.
- Co-director David Florian stated the team learned of the alleged cloning through social media messages; agency Mystic Story denies deliberate plagiarism.
- No lawsuit was filed as of June 2026; the case is the first prominent example of an animation school defending student work against alleged AI cloning.
Summary
In 2026, a K-pop promotional teaser produced with AI assistance was alleged to have cloned the visual style and content of Niccolò, a short film made by six Gobelins students. Gobelins publicly backed the students and threatened legal action, marking the first prominent case of an animation school taking an institutional stance in defence of student IP against alleged AI reproduction. The case directly poses the question of institutional responsibility for student work in the era of generative AI and will serve as a case study in IP, ethics and institutional policy for animation programs.
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Source
Source: Cartoon Brew ↗ (Trade Press)
Cite this item
Cartoon Brew (2026). ‘Gobelins / 'Niccolò' AI-cloning case: school defends student work’, Cartoon Brew. Available at: https://www.cartoonbrew.com/student/niccolo-gobelins-david-florian-ai-260450.html
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