Adorable or Unsettling? Harry & Ron Reimagined as Babies with AI

Newly created AI art depicting Harry and Ron as infants alongside their pets, Hedwig and Scabbers, has been shared on Instagram by Brittany Earnest. These images, inspired by J.K. Rowling's beloved Harry Potter novels, offer a unique and interesting take on the beloved characters. While the concept of baby Harry and Ron may sound cute, the resulting images may not be what you expect.

Both Harry and Ron's signature features are present in the images, with Harry's round glasses and Ron's red hair. However, the faces of the babies appear aged and wrinkled, which gives them an unsettling and unrealistic appearance.

The concept of imagining the main characters of Harry Potter as babies using AI technology gives rise to an intriguing question about the age of the characters. It makes one wonder whether the books and movies would have been just as successful if the characters were either younger or older. For instance, if Harry, Ron, and Hermione had been younger than eleven during the events of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the movie could have appealed to a much younger audience. On the other hand, had the characters been older, the movies could have captured a more mature teenage demographic.

Starting Harry at eleven was a smart decision as it enabled the franchise to appeal to a wide age range. This way, kids around that age could enjoy the movie without it being too complex for older audiences. Moreover, if Harry were any younger, the darker elements of the story would have had to be toned down or removed.

Starting at eleven also allowed Harry to mature and grow as the story progressed, enabling exploration of the characters' romantic lives and the awkwardness of being a teenager. As Harry aged, the stories became darker, adding weight to the fight against Voldemort and the story's stakes. While a more kid-oriented version of Harry Potter with younger versions of the characters may have been intriguing, Rowling's decision to start Harry's journey at the age of eleven was perfect.

Source: @brittanyearnest/ Instagram