In an open letter to
the anime industry, a creator and company president explained how the
correct use of artificial
intelligence (AI) could help employees under the anime
industry's notorious working conditions. Creator and president Masamune
Sakaki , who is also a computer graphics (CG) creator, revealed to be
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 am also the president of an overseas company that produces
hand-drawn animation (a point of contact for Chinese anime companies) .
There has 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 rigorous unit prices and deadlines due to
repeated interruptions in the schedule .
- « Please stop saying “we don't need AI” and acting like this isn't happening! I wonder if end users (like big anime companies abroad 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 the desire to improve the workplace. While we should ban the misuse of AI, I really hope people stop criticizing AI research. If used effectively. AI has a lot of potential to solve many problems in the anime industry .
The
creator went on to explain how AI could be used as a useful tool as it is
enhancing and processing images with increasingly higher resolution. He emphasized that the work of
the human artist will not disappear, 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 in the anime industry has generated
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 production efficiency. However,
on the other hand, many anime fans, especially those who value hand-drawn
animation, are strongly opposed to the implementation of AI in the creation of
anime. They believe that AI intervention could compromise the quality
and unique art that characterizes traditional anime.
Overall, the use of
AI in the anime industry is a divisive topic that will continue to spark
discussions and controversies. As technology advances and develops, it
will be interesting to see how the anime industry addresses this issue and
whether it eventually embraces AI as an integral tool in the anime production
process.
Follow Masamune Sakaki on Twitter
