AI Could Solve Anime's Problems

In an open letter addressed to the anime industry, a creator and president of a company explained how the correct use of artificial intelligence (AI) could help employees under the notorious working conditions of the anime industry. Creator and president Masamune Sakaki, who is also a computer graphics (CG) creator, revealed to be the president of an overseas company that produces hand-drawn animation, being a point of contact for Chinese anime companies.

• "For everyone in the anime industry, I haven't made this public, but in addition to being a CG animator, I'm also the president of an overseas company that produces hand-drawn animation (a point of contact for Chinese anime companies). There's been a lot of criticism about generative AI lately, and I think the misuse of AI is totally unacceptable. However, almost no one in the anime industry talks about how employees of anime companies in China are being exploited due to unit prices and rigorous deadlines due to repeated disruptions in the schedule."
• "Please stop saying 'we don't need AI' and acting like this isn't happening! I wonder if the end users (like the big anime companies overseas and in Japan), who support the creation of most Japanese anime under incredibly harsh working conditions, really understand. I want it to be known that there are people researching AI with a desire to improve the workplace. While we need to ban the misuse of AI, I really hope that people will stop criticizing AI research. If used effectively, AI has a lot of potential to solve a lot of problems in the anime industry."

The creator went on to explain how AI could be used as a useful tool, as it is improving and processing images with an increasingly higher resolution. He emphasized that the work of the human artist won't go away, but suggests that animators can use AI to improve their initial drawings and save time. "AI is more accurate if you give it instructions by drawing them, rather than using prompts."

This call for the incorporation of artificial intelligence into the anime industry has generated a heated debate among fans. On the one hand, many industry professionals express support for legal regulation of AI, but are open to its use due to its potential benefits in improving working conditions and efficiency in production. However, on the other hand, many anime fans, especially those who value hand-drawn animation, are strongly opposed to the implementation of AI in anime creation. They consider that the intervention of AI could compromise the quality and unique artistry that characterizes traditional anime.

Overall, the use of AI in the anime industry is a divisive topic that will continue to generate discussions and controversies. As technology advances and develops, it will be interesting to see how the anime industry approaches this question and whether it finally embraces AI as an integral tool in the anime production process.

Source: Masamune Sakaki en Twitter