Toei Animation has solidified its plans when it comes to integrating artificial intelligence into its creative infrastructure, stating that it will become a permanent fixture moving forward. While it didn’t state what specific phases of production it would be used in, a report from Business Outlook stated that several major production phases will utilize AI-powered technology.
A report from Enomis on Twitter did shed some light as to what those phases referred to. They stated that Toei Animation looks to use AI for storyboard creation, coloring, automatic correction of genga, and converting photographs into anime-style background illustrations.
Toei Animation recently made an investment in a company known as Preferred Networks Inc., which specializes in cutting-edge AI technology. Of course, this will raise red flags as AI, especially when it comes to generating anime artwork, has received major backlash from artists and fans alike. The recent trend of converting images into Studio Ghibli anime scenes caused several AI tools to remove that functionality from their AI’s logic.
Despite this, Toei Animation believes that the usage of AI will increase its operational efficiency by lowering high animation expenses and shortening overall production times. This could, and most likely will, lead to the reduction of necessary positions within the anime industry. Right when the anime industry was starting to right the ship when it comes to pay and work hours concerns, AI could create a whole new set of problems in the not-so-distant future.
Source: CBR
