Toei Animation, the legendary studio behind Sailor Moon, has confirmed it will significantly expand its use of artificial intelligence in the production pipeline. The announcement detailed plans to implement AI in tasks such as storyboarding, coloring, in-between animation corrections, and background creation. While AI has been quietly integrated into many animation processes across the industry, Toei's openness about deepening its reliance on such tools has sparked a firestorm of controversy among animators and fans alike.

The reaction was swift and polarizing. Some view the shift as a natural evolution in animation technology, while others see it as a betrayal of the artistic soul of anime. Critics argue that AI could undermine human creativity, particularly in tasks that traditionally require a trained artistic eye. As one of the oldest and most respected studios in Japan, Toei Animation's move is seen by some as legitimizing a trend that may ultimately devalue the craft of hand-drawn animation and marginalize artists already facing grueling work conditions.

AI's Expanding Role in Toei's Anime Production

Toei Animation is Officially Going AI With Parts of Their Animation Process

Toei's announcement outlines specific applications of AI across its production pipeline. These include using AI to automatically generate storyboards, fill in intermediate animation frames (known as "genga" or in-betweens), apply color to character models, and even convert real-world photographs into finished backgrounds. This comprehensive use of AI goes well beyond mere assistance; it is a systemic integration that alters how anime is made at nearly every stage. By doing so, the studio hopes to reduce production time and costs, which are two major pressures in the industry.

ers of the move argue that AI could alleviate some of the burdens that have long plagued animation workers. Long hours, tight deadlines, and low pay are common in anime studios. If AI can streamline tedious tasks and allow artists to focus more on high-level creative work, it could improve both productivity and job satisfaction. However, critics worry that the same tools could be used to justify cutting staff or devaluing skilled labor, especially if studios prioritize efficiency over artistry.

Fan Backlash and Industry Concerns Against AI in Anime

Fans and Critics Believe That AI Has No Place in the Creative Space of Animation and Storytelling

Fans and professionals alike have voiced concern that the soul of anime could be lost in this push for automation. Social media reactions to Toei's announcement have ranged from disappointment to outrage, with many questioning whether beloved series like One Piece and Dragon Ball will suffer in quality or lose their signature charm. There is a widespread fear that AI-generated visuals may lack the emotional depth, imperfections, and stylistic flair that human artists bring to the medium.

Industry insiders also worry about the broader implications. If a studio as influential as Toei normalizes heavy AI use, it could push smaller studios to follow suit just to stay competitive. That could result in a race to the bottom, where hand-drawn artistry like in One Piece and Dragon Ball is devalued, and fewer opportunities exist for new artists to develop their skills. The anime community now finds itself at a crossroads of whether to embrace the efficiencies of AI or defend the traditions that made the medium what it is today.

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  Dragon Ball

  From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku's never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
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  One Piece

  Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history's longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix's 2023 adaptation.