Okay. Let's say we find out tomorrow that Spirited Away was animated via generative AI. Unbeknownst to everyone, Ghibli has a top-secret AI division which—thanks to some key lucky breakthroughs—is many decades ahead of everyone else and has been for a long time. The animators are a front to hide the truth; Miyazaki's anti-AI declarations were pure jealousy.

Would Spirited Away no longer be a good film?

And at the very least, if someone was willing to do back breaking labor to tell me something, it’s probably something they think is important

the process is not important for art, although it might have value for people. art is a subjective experience, one that comes to life in the obeserver.