AI Threatens to Overrule Anime, but Hayao Miyazaki gave me hope.
Including those in the anime business, artificial intelligence has grown to be a major challenge to artists all around. From the self-driving automobile to ghost-followers on social media to face-recognition features in the most recent cell phones, artificial intelligence utilization has reached unprecedented levels. Though not all of Ai's opportunities are bad for societies, artists have growing worries about their replacement with the cheaper, faster labor of AI in their area; Anime is no exception.
Being a voice performer and illustrator, I have also seen how artificial intelligence shapes the entertAinment business. Although not yet fully implemented, artificial intelligence has already crept into several movie and TV companies, including Anime. Although far from totally substituting their Artists, one of the most recognizable brands in anime, Toei Animation, has already started using artificial intelligence in their works to expedite the production line. Although viewers would value the impacts of artificial intelligence on the anime business—faster production times that result in faster release dates—they should be cognizant of the repercussions an AI takeover could have on their favorite artists. Artists also have to be aware of the approaching artificial intelligence concern. Not all artificial intelligence use, though, is disastrous; anime icons like Hayao Miyazaki already show that nobody can really replace the soul and heart of human-made work. Although an unstable future is definitely approaching, I am sure that viewers and creators can cooperate to minimize the influence of artificial intelligence on the anime business.
Already, Toei Animation is using artificial intelligence.
Originally founded in January 1948, Toei Animation—then known as Nihon Doga Co., Ltd.—is among the first anime companies and has produced some of the most famous series including Dragon Ball, Digimon, and SAIlor Moon. But maybe one of their most well-known creations as of late is the internationally acclaimed action-adventure series, One Piece, derived from Eiichiro Oda's same-named manga.
It was interesting to me that among the first to include artificial intelligence into their production process is Toei Animation, one of the oldest animation companies in Japan. AI has put its mark on several of their most recent productions even though they have not replaced their main Artists. According to Toei Animation, backdrops and accelerated character clothing coloring are created using artificial intelligence right now. Toei Animation debuted an experimental short-film back in 2021 using artificial intelligence to translate photographs of Sasebo city of Japan into basic representation that matched the classic anime style. Artists retouch these photographs then showed them in the short-film Urvan.
How I Lost My Voice Actor Job to AI
For different projects, I freelance illustrator and voice actor right now. Though I do not work full-time in either of these professions, the application of artificial intelligence in a recent project has already affected me. For instance, I was excited to schedule a long-term project spanning several seasons whereby I would play two roles: lead and supporting. I got an emAIl including every voice actor's worst fear following the recording of the first two seasons. To save expenses and expedite the filming process, the directors of the movie were intending to substitute Artificial Intelligence-generated voices for all the voice actors.
Of course, though, I am not the only artist who has found herself in this kind of circumstances. Actually, the motivation for artificial intelligence substitutes goes well beyond faster turnarounds in the manufacturing process. Reputable for underpaying and overworking its animators, MAPPA is one of the most renowned animation companies. According to previous MAPPA disputes, animators may work up to six or seven days a week and up to twelve hours every day. Audiences have observed the drop in quality in recent episodes of the studio's largest anime, including Jujutsu Kaisen, and several former MAPPA Artists have spoken out on the harsh working circumstances. But rather of paying its artists decently, companies are looking to Artificial Intelligence as a less expensive fix.
Hayao Miyazaki Shows Artists Can Resist Replacement Plans
Fortunately not all hope is gone. Hayao Miyazaki's remarks on artificial intelligence have helped him to show why he is still more relevant than ever. The director of Studio Ghibli has stayed a ray of light for artists who are worried about the direction of animation while studios underpay their employees and turn to artificial intelligence to replace human creativity. When originally proposed using artificial intelligence at Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki said:
"I am really disgusted." You are free to create eerie works if you so wish. I would never want to include this technology into my work at all. I really believe that this is a disrespect of life itself. Haigo Miyazaki As an artist, Miyazaki's audacious declaration inspires hope. Artists banding together to challenge the replacement of human creativity with artificial artistry will help to counteract the AI movement. Viewers have already offered their honest and candid thoughts on AI-heavy projects such Rock, Paper, Scissors and Corridor Digital's 7-minute short film. Although the creators have called the short a "anime," it was filmed in live-action. The creative team then made the visuals seem "cartoon," emuLAting the legendary style of anime, using artificial intelligence. But what came out was a soulless, "uncanny valley" animation that seemed more like a parodies than an homage of anime. On the project, the LA-based manufacturing company has drawn negative comments and criticism. Although I would not support any kind of harassment of an artist's work, I cannot help but value viewers defending the jobs of animators, voice actors, and artists that maintain the anime business afloat.
Artists against artificial intelligence: Examining the direction of anime
They promised to pay me a little stipend to use my voice to teach the artificial intelligence when I found out my multi-season voice-over project was substituting AI for performers. I declined after much thought. Companies can utilize artists' voices endlessly, without paying the voice performers more than once. I turned down the deal for my own benefit as well as in protest for other musicians. On social media, several artists have voiced their anxiety about the current application of artificial intelligence. Many programmers, animators, and authors worry about their employment being at jeopardy. Apart from Hayao Miyazaki's bold remarks on artificial intelligence, other animation enthusiasts have shown that it will take fellow artists advocating human-made art to maintain those limitations in pLAce.
Particularly for creators, writers, and actors who provide to us our beloved shows, the future of anime can be unstable. Still, I am sure that together as a society we can make sure that artificial intelligence has little effect on the anime business and benefits everyone else only.
