Former Netflix Pokémon Producer Cites Anime Industry Woes for AI Usage
An executive producer on Netflix’s Pokémon Janitor, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance and other hit shows has shared his thoughts on the use of artificial intelligence in the creation of anime. He talked about fans’ vocal attitudes against it — and why it might not be as bad as they imagine.
Per Internet Watch, Taiki Sakurai shared his experience of using AI in various parts of production when executive producing series, as well as the backlash that came with it. “There are also negative voices towards AI from anime fans, saying, ‘It’s inhumane for humans to be replaced by machines!’ But from the outlook of those who create the anime, it also feels inhumane to draw 100,000 pictures all by hand,” he stated.
[Image via The Pokémon Company, Dwarf Studios and Netflix Animation]
Anime Industry Turns to AI to Combat labor Shortages, but Concerns Remain
The anime industry is increasingly exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to address a growing labor shortage, according to statements made by Masahiko Sakurai, a prominent figure in the Japanese animation world. While acknowledging anxieties about job displacement, Sakurai emphasizes AI’s potential to alleviate pressures within the industry.
Sakurai highlighted a concerning trend: “With the declining birthrate meaning fewer people are entering the anime industry, there are even dark jokes about how, in an era where everything has been replaced by AI, there will be no one left in the production studio.” This sentiment underscores the severity of the workforce challenges facing anime production.
Though, the adoption of AI isn’t uniform across creative fields.Sakurai noted a stronger resistance within the manga industry, where the ease of AI replication poses a direct threat to artists’ livelihoods. “Once a manga or illustration is printed, there is a real possibility that it could be replaced by AI on the spot,” he explained. Anime production, requiring the transformation of images into video, currently presents a higher technical barrier for full AI automation.
Sakurai discussed his experience with AI in the Netflix animated short, The Dog & The Boy, released three years ago. the project, wich utilized AI-generated backgrounds alongside hand-drawn characters and CG elements, faced significant backlash. Critics accused Netflix of prioritizing AI over human artists and attempting to fully automate animation production.
https://www.cbr.com/netflix-generative-ai-animation-research/
Since then, the approach to AI integration has evolved. sakurai’s company is now collaborating with concept artist Kenichiro Tomiyasu on an experiment where an AI model learns from Tomiyasu’s artwork. Tomiyasu provides rough sketches, which the AI then refines, effectively acting as a digital assistant.
this process prioritizes ethical considerations. Sakurai explained that the AI model is destroyed upon completion of the project, ensuring Tomiyasu’s artistic style isn’t misused. “From the output of around 100 patterns, Tomiyasu is asked to choose the one he thinks is closest to his own,” Sakurai said, emphasizing the artist’s continued control and creative input.
https://www.cbr.com/anime-industry-collapse-ai-warning/
The experiment is driven by the urgent need to address the anime industry’s labor shortage, offering a potential solution that leverages AI while respecting the contributions of human artists.
Image Credit: The Pokémon Company, Dwarf Studios and Netflix Animation. (https://static0.cbrimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/pikachu-1.jpeg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2)
