The use of artificial intelligence in the anime industry has sparked an intense debate among authors and artists. While some, following in the footsteps of figures like Hayao Miyazaki, criticize the integration of this technology, others are beginning to adopt it enthusiastically. Mahiro Maeda, known for his work as a lead animator at Studio Ghibli and his role at Gainax in the creation of Evangelion, has taken a favorable stance towards AI in a recent interview during Hyper Japan.
An interest more than intellectual
Maeda commented on his interest in how AI could impact the industry, revealing that his studio is experimenting with its use in certain projects. “Personally, I am very interested in AI and how it will affect our industry. We cannot create something solely with AI, but soon it may surpass this,” he indicated. In his view, AI has the potential to take on some of the responsibilities of human animators, which could streamline processes that are currently tedious.
AI advocates, like Maeda, argue that if used correctly, it can accelerate production by focusing on technical aspects such as rendering and debugging. “Despite the criticism, AI should not be seen merely as a threat, but as a tool that can coexist with animators, respecting the original material and enhancing efficiency,” says Maeda.
As this technology continues to evolve, it is likely that, just like with other innovations in the past, AI will not completely replace humans in the creation of anime, but will coexist and enhance other production methods. The creative community is on alert, as the way AI integrates into the creative process will remain a hot topic of conversation in the coming years.
