As Hollywood grapples with worries about the threat of artificial intelligence, the union that represents animators is facing dissent over its latest deal with major studios.

“What I learned is that documentarians and animators come from opposite extremes. Animators have so much control, and documentarians have so little,” Neville says.

Negotiations began in August for a new contract that would increase wages, address the shrinking of crews and establish protections against AI, which many animators see as an existential threat to their craft.

But animators are widely seen as especially vulnerable to AI.

It’s never explained what caused the rising waters that spur the film’s action, but “Flow” itself could break a dam that’s held back animators from leaning into the beauty of behaviorally authentic beasts.