To ease the labor costs, but what are the risks?
Japanese animation studios are beginning to explore and use AI, though adoption of it is still cautious and controversial.
How AI is Being Used:
- In-Between Animation (In-betweens): AI is being tested to automate the labor-intensive task of drawing frames between key animations. This is one of the most time-consuming parts of the animation process.
- Example: An animation project, called “Dog & The Boy” by Netflix Japan and Wit Studio (2023), used AI-generated backgrounds to reduce costs.
- Background Generation: AI tools like Stable Diffusion are being used to generate or enhance backgrounds, especially for low-budget or independent projects.
- Colorization: AI can automate the coloring of characters and frames, especially for simple or repetitive scenes.
- Upscaling & Remastering: AI is used to upscale older Anime shows to HD or 4K, cleaning up the visuals without having to redraw them manually.
- Lip Sync & Voice: AI voice synthesis and auto lip-syncing tools are being tested, though still far from mainstream.
Some Notable Major Anime Studios Using AI in Anime Production
Several Japanese animation studios are actively incorporating AI animation into their production processes.
- Toei Animation
- Known for iconic series like Dragon Ball and One Piece, Toei Animation has announced plans to integrate AI into various aspects of their animation production. They have collaborated with Preferred Networks to use an AI tool called Scenify, which converts real-world photographs into Anime-style backgrounds, significantly reducing production time. Additionally, Toei is participating in the “Animation Auto Coloring AI” project with Cinnamon AI and Geek Pictures to automate the coloring process in animation.
- Source: Toei Animation, Cinnamon AI
- Wit Studio
- Wit Studio, known for Attack on Titan, collaborated with Netflix and AI art studio Rinna to produce the short film The Dog & The Boy. In this project, AI was used to generate background art, which was then refined by human artists, demonstrating a hybrid approach to animation.
- Source: Wikipedia
- Studio Orange
- Specializing in 3D CGI animation, Studio Orange has utilized AI-driven tools like facial tracking software and Unreal Engine for rendering backgrounds in productions such as Beastars and IDOLiSH7. Their approach blends AI with traditional techniques to enhance animation quality.
- Source: Polygon
- Production I.G
- Famous for Ghost in the Shell, Production I.G partnered with AI startup Alpaca to develop a tool that analyzes storyboards and predicts audience reactions. This AI assists in identifying pacing issues and plot holes, streamlining the storytelling process.
- Source: ITBusiness Today
- MAPPA
- The studio behind Jujutsu Kaisen has integrated AI into its post-production workflow. AI systems handle routine tasks like lip-syncing and motion blur, allowing artists to focus on complex scenes and maintaining high-quality animation under tight deadlines.
- Source: ITBusiness Today
- Studio Ghibli
- While traditionally known for hand-drawn animation, Studio Ghibli has experimented with AI in projects like Spirited Away 2.0, using AI for digitizing and enhancing old drawings, aiding in the coloring process, and adding background details.
- Source: Ukiyo-Japan
- Sunrise
- The studio behind the Gundam series has utilized an AI program named “MechaGen” to automate the design of complex mechanical units and robots, streamlining the creation of detailed mecha models while maintaining their distinctive style.
- Source: Ukiyo-Japan
- A-1 Pictures
- Known for Sword Art Online, A-1 Pictures implemented an AI named “FantasyScape” to generate rich and complex virtual worlds, enabling rapid creation of diverse sceneries and enhancing the visual experience of their series.
- Source: Ukiyo-Japan
- Studio Bones
- Responsible for My Hero Academia, Studio Bones used an AI called “HeroMotion” to enhance dynamic fight scenes, creating more fluid and realistic character movements, which contributed to the series’ energetic and exciting sequences.
- Source: Ukiyo-Japan
- Shaft
- Famous for the Monogatari series, Shaft employed an AI program named “SceneWeaver” to create unique and surreal backgrounds, allowing for experimentation with various artistic styles and visuals that define the series’ distinctive aesthetic.
- Source: Ukiyo-Japan
- Ufotable
- The studio behind Demon Slayer utilized advanced AI “DemonArt” to generate complex animation effects of water and fire, achieving an unmatched level of detail and realism in its animations, significantly raising the bar for visual effects in anime.
- Source: Ukiyo-Japan
- K&K Design
- A smaller studio based in Nagoya, K&K Design has been using proprietary generative AI tools to automate in-between animation. By creating only the start and end frames, their AI fills in the intermediate frames, drastically reducing production time from days to hours. They emphasize human oversight to refine AI-generated content.
- Source: Reddit
- KaKa Technology Studio
- This studio produced Twins Hinahima, a 2025 anime short film that incorporated AI assistance in its animation process, showcasing the growing trend of AI integration in Anime production.
- Source: Wikipedia
Industry Challenges & Controversies:
There are several known issues, challenges, and controversies, wherein some Japanese animation studios are adopting and testing AI in some of their Animes and other projects.
The integration of AI in Anime production has sparked debate within the industry. While some view it as a means to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, others express concerns about potential job displacement and the impact on the traditional artistry of anime. For instance, Toei Animation’s announcement to adopt AI technologies has led to mixed reactions among fans and industry professionals. (Source: IndiaTimes)
- Quality Concerns: AI-generated content often lacks the precision and expression of hand-drawn animation (i.e. Excessive finger counts, uneven body proportions, etc.).
- Job Security: Many animators worry about job loss, especially for in-between animators who are already underpaid.
- Ethical Concerns: Some animation studios have faced criticism and backlash when they used AI art generation and redraws on artists’ work without consent.
- Audience Reception: Some fans and critics have mixed reactions to AI-generated animation, often calling it lifeless or soulless.
In summary, Japanese animation studios are experimenting with AI primarily to cut costs and improve efficiency, but it’s still early-stage and met with industry resistance. AI is more likely to supplement artists rather than replacing them — at least for now.
