'Will stop watching': Anime fans express concern as One Piece animation studio plans to adopt AI in production
Reports that Toei Animation, the well-known studio behind One Piece, Dragon Ball, and other classic series, intends to integrate artificial intelligence into various phases of its animation production have sent anime enthusiasts on the internet into a panic. Following its investment in Preferred Networks (PFN), which is said to have "top-level AI technology competence in Japan," further information about Toei Animation's AI ambitions has surfaced. "We will seek to co-develop new business opportunities and improve the efficiency and quality of our production, capitalizing on synergies between AI and animation production technologies," Toei Animation stated in the FY2026 forecast section of its FY2025 financial report.
Anime fans upset as One Piece animation studio plans to adopt AI in production
The news was shared with fans on Reddit by a social media user and while some people expected it, others felt that the animation studio will have its downfall.
One wrote, 'It's pretty hard not to feel like this is coming for the entire industry piece by piece. Will be interesting to see how much human hand there still is in anime 10 years from now.' Another added ' It's funny. I remember Miyazaki during the time of Princess Mononoke was pretty disappointed that computers couldn't handle things like in-betweens (he found it boring and tedious).'
A third went on to add, 'Get ready, this is what the future of anime looks like.'
Anime made by Toei animation studio
Toei Animation stands as one of Japan's most historic and influential animation studios, with a legacy of producing many legendary anime titles. Among its flagship creations are Dragon Ball (1986), Dragon Ball Z (1989), and Dragon Ball Super (2015), which together make up one of the most iconic franchises in anime history. The studio also produces One Piece (1999–present), a record-breaking and widely cherished series. Other timeless titles from Toei's extensive catalog include Sailor Moon (1992), Saint Seiya (1986), Digimon Adventure (1999), Fist of the North Star (Hokuto no Ken, 1984), GeGeGe no Kitarō (first aired in 1968 with several remakes), and Dr. Slump (1981).
For those who don't know, Toei Animation has already experimented with producing anime with AI support. In 2021, it collaborated with PFN to convert photo backgrounds into anime backgrounds for an experimental short film using PFN's Scenify technology.
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