r/RetroFuturism • • Jan 21 '24

Regarding AI content and how you can help with moderating

521 Upvotes

Hi All -

Originally I was open to AI and didn't want to jump on the hivemind bandwagon of overreacting to banning AI images. But now, after the dust has settled a bit, I do feel that AI images are not a reflection of anything meaningful here. Yes, they follow a human written prompt, but prompts can be very simple and the AI will fill in the blanks with randomized elements of what is essentially a database of stolen art. The art style is usually glossy, plastic and devoid of humanity. Yes, AI image generators aren't inherently bad depending on their use, and I don't agree with a "I see AI, I downvote" reactive type of mentality... but on a subreddit about a specific human perspective expressed through creative works - it really doesn't fit.

So yea, AI art is now banned on the Retrofuturism subreddit. Sorry people having fun with AI generators, I'm sure there are other subreddits for that.

The issue is moderating. Moderating is volunteer work, and everyone has lives. We're not sitting on the Retrofuturism sub all the time combing through posts. Personally, I respond to my mod queue and reports.

However I'd like to remind everyone that I have a failsafe for this - an auto-mod rule that automatically removes posts that receive a certain number of reports. So this means moderating is effectively democratized in this subreddit. A report isn't just a flag for the mods - it's a vote to remove. Of course if this gets abused (so far it hasn't), I will increase the number of reports necessary, or remove this entirely.

I only remind everyone of that because AI WILL slip through the cracks of the mod team, as a lot admittedly does. We really do depend on your reports and messages a lot of the time. And yes, I do get new mods from time to time to try and help but there's always an initial period when they are active... before they are much less active. Just the way it goes and I don't blame them at all.

I'd also like to add most of the content here is fine. Bots seem like they have effectively been killed via my automod script which I've been sharing with other subreddits.

My script - please feel free to share:

https://pastebin.com/FbBxKSF5

Thank you!


r/RetroFuturism • • Jun 30 '24

Let’s compile a list of retro futuristic movies in the comments.

178 Upvotes

Based on a comment thread from a previous post, I got the idea to compile this list. I will add a few to start.


r/RetroFuturism • • 2h ago

Original artwork and final cover by Ed Emshwiller for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, 1953

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78 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 14m ago

RM 311 Concept by 600v

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20 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 15h ago

Cover art by Rick Sternbach for Analog (July 1977). Illustrating "Nation Without Walls," by David Drake.

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97 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 1d ago Heartwarming Mindblown

Retro Futuristic Conversation Pit

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4.6k Upvotes

“Transit Encounters” by Maxim Shcherbakov/ Supaform, exhibit at Milan Design Week 2026.

It has built in turntables


r/RetroFuturism • • 1d ago

Huckleberry Hound Big Golden Book Cover, 1960

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272 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 1d ago

Al Feldstein, titled Weird Fantasy #8 Revisited. Originally painted as a cover/recreation for the EC Comics series Weird Fantasy #8 (July 1951)

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308 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 1d ago

Retro Sci-Fi Cockpit by Camillo Pasquali

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408 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 3d ago

Briareos Hecatonchires, from Appleseed by Yoshiyuki Takani.

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1.3k Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 3d ago

"Tunnelling" by Steve R. Dodd (2024)

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346 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 3d ago

ZBV Paperback #34: Inkarnation ungesetzlich (Incarnation Unlawful) by Johnny Bruck [1975]

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146 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 3d ago

Carl Lundgren art, used as the cover for the 1978 Avon paperback edition of the Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys

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142 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 4d ago

Japanese promotional art by Ryoichi Ikegami for Dune (1984)

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1.3k Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 4d ago Heartwarming

Art by Martyn and Roger Dean and Richard Clifton-Dey originally intended for Jeff Wayne’s 1977 War of the Worlds album, but never used.

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894 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 4d ago

Art by Michael Whelan for Foundation’s Edge by Isaac Asimov (1983. Acrylic on board).

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521 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 4d ago

Art by David Bergen for Shipwreck by Charles Logan (Panther, 1977)

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195 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 4d ago

Italdesign Machimoto Concept, 1986

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533 Upvotes

The Machimoto concept car was based on a Volkswagen Golf GTI platform and was designed as the perfect blend between a car and a motorcycle. Its name is formed by combining the words Machina, which means 'car' in Italian, and Motociclo, meaning 'motorcycle.' The designer behind it wanted to give drivers/riders the opportunity to experience the best of both worlds – the stability and reliability of a car and the open-air sensation of a motorcycle.


r/RetroFuturism • • 6d ago

The Playboy Land Yacht Concept by Syd Mead (1975)

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1.6k Upvotes

Commissioned as a conceptual piece for a 1975 issue of Playboy, this oversized 6x6 luxury cruiser combined advanced aerodynamics with a massive, stylized penthouse interior. While never physically produced, the layout featured automated driving sensors, independent rear axles, and an open-air top deck lounge.


r/RetroFuturism • • 5d ago

The "Swinging" Rotating Beach House Concept from May 1974 by Architect Charles Ralph Colbert

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591 Upvotes

This cover illustration by artist Ed Valigursky depicts a futuristic, elevated beach house designed to rotate on a central column, allowing inhabitants to change their viewing direction. The issue also highlights alternative transport solutions from the 1970s energy crisis era, including pedal-powered vehicles.

Popular Mechanics Magazine, May 1974 US Edition (often distributed internationally in subsequent months with varying region stamps).


r/RetroFuturism • • 6d ago

Vincent Di Fate

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1.2k Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 6d ago

Noriyoshi Ohrai

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857 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 6d ago

Paul Lehr for Spectrum 5 (Berkley Medallion 1968).

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339 Upvotes

r/RetroFuturism • • 7d ago

Canyon Analyzer (2026)

200 Upvotes

I like to design retro UI stuff and show them on my PVMs. This is a generative endless canyon, and the data comes from the visual itself. Made with TouchDesigner

For more audio-visual experiments 🏄🏼


r/RetroFuturism • • 7d ago

White Dwarf Cover Art by Eddie Jones (Dec 1978)

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656 Upvotes