A prominent actor from the Mortal Kombat legacy, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa who portrayed Shang Tsung in the 1995 film, recently shared a video on social media illustrating how artificial intelligence can render Mortal Kombat characters into a post apocalyptic world. The clip demonstrates AI art in action, transforming familiar fighters into a stark, ruined landscape where their iconic moves meet a harsher, wind swept backdrop.
The video features a montage that includes legendary fighters like Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya and other well known names from the franchise. The creator behind the visuals goes by Milanjaram and the project leverages the Midjourney neural network to generate the imagery. Tagawa himself responds to the piece with one of his most memorable lines from the film, Your Soul Is Mine, echoing the character’s signature menace and presence.
The technology driving the visuals is discussed as a demonstration of how AI art tools can reinterpret beloved video game characters within new environments. Viewers see how established character silhouettes and color palettes are reimagined through an algorithmic lens, producing styles that range from painterly to hyper realistic. The result is a blend of nostalgia and futuristic aesthetics that appeals to fans who enjoy both the retro charm of the Mortal Kombat era and the modern capabilities of AI assisted design.
The creator credits the use of a powerful RTX 4090 setup and notes that the adaptation relies on a custom workflow designed to push the limits of AI generated imagery. While some viewers hope for a formal announcement of a Mortal Kombat sequel or a new installment, the focus here is on the creative process and the visual possibilities unlocked by current AI tools. The video invites audiences to imagine how classic characters might appear if placed in new, dramatic contexts or timelines, and it showcases how far AI can go when paired with skilled artistic direction.
In this exploration, the collaboration between a well known film icon, a digital artist, and advanced AI technology highlights the evolving relationship between traditional media and machine generated content. The piece functions as both a tribute to the franchise and a case study in contemporary AI aesthetics, prompting discussions about art, entertainment, and the future of character design in popular culture. The visual narrative invites viewers to consider how iconic fighters can be reinterpreted while preserving their essential identity and appeal, even when placed against a radically altered backdrop. The result is a conversation about how digital tools expand the expressive range available to creators and fans alike, without compromising the core essence of beloved characters. [VG Times]