The recent
scandal over the use of generative artificial intelligence in
the first episode of Ascendance of a Bookworm (Honzuki no
Gekokujou) is far from over. Although WIT Studio issued a
formal apology on April 10 taking the blame for the AI-generated funds in
the opening, the company's statements did not convince everyone.
Now, a prominent animator in the industry has broken the silence to expose the
deep internal problems of the production company and explain why he refuses to
work with them again.
위트는 참 예전부터 이런 곳이지.
— アニメーター漫画描き 申榮淳 申荣淳 신영순シンヨンスン座員4399ホロライブ大好きＷＤ (@TruebardK) April 11, 2026
카바네리 일힐때도 느꼈지만 탓을 남에게 돌리고 틀려도 고치면 뭐라하는 곳이니까.
내가 위트랑 다시 일하지 않는게 이런 제작들 문제가 크니까
아무튼 제일 어이없는게 오프닝이면 감독도 체크했을거고, 프로듀서도 그렇고 여러사람들이 필름나오기 전에 보는데 https://t.co/mdZvhpYTXr
A
history of evasion of responsibility
The
animator, known for his previous work with the studio on the 2016 series Kabaneri
of the Iron Fortress (Koutetsujou no Kabaneri), used the
controversy to shed light on the company's work culture. According to his
testimony, the problems in WIT Studio are deep and go back years. He described
his experience on that project as an environment where staff constantly blame
others and reprimand workers even when they try to correct their own mistakes.
In fact, he confessed that this toxic environment was the main reason why he
categorically rejected the offer to work on the acclaimed Vinland Saga anime.
The real
culprit behind the opening
Regarding
WIT Studio's statement, where they blamed "failures in their inspection
and management systems", the veteran entertainer did not hesitate to point
directly at the top brass. He explained that since this is an opening sequence,
it is impossible for the material to go unnoticed, as the anime's director,
producers, and other key crew members thoroughly review each cut before it
airs. Therefore, he argued that the director is the one who should be held
accountable and take real responsibility for having approved AI-generated
images.
In a
statement later the same day, the artist clarified that his intention was not
to launch a hate attack against the company, but simply to state his reasons
for not wanting to associate with them anymore. He noted that, unlike other
companies that stand up correctly, the studio seems to lack a true sense of
responsibility. Meanwhile, WIT Studio is keeping its promise that it will
redraw the affected backgrounds with human artists and replace the sequence
starting in the second episode.
