AI Anime Will Never Be More Than a Cringey Gimmick

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Artificial intelligence has quickly become a part of everyday life for many people, used for both fun and work. This rise has sparked debate, particularly when it comes to AI-generated art like anime. While there’s been a push to use AI more in anime production, even to create entire shows with it, it seems likely this is just a temporary trend.

I’m seeing AI pop up in all sorts of fields, but honestly, I don’t think it has a place in anime. As a fan, I believe most people will ultimately turn away from AI-generated anime – it just can’t capture the same quality and artistry as work done by human artists, and I don’t see that changing. Right now, those trying to push AI into anime seem a bit misguided, and I suspect that’s how history will remember them in a few years.

No AI Anime Will Ever Be as Good as the Masterpiece Anime Created by Humans

Art isn’t just what is created, but how it’s created – the expression itself. While AI proponents often focus on the final result, the creative process is inseparable from the artwork. Trying to separate them, particularly in something like anime, will likely fail. AI lacks the personal experiences needed to build relatable characters and meaningful stories, and to add those small, heartfelt details that make animation special. Despite the name, today’s AI doesn’t truly create anything original; it simply reassembles existing information. It can mimic, but it can’t inject genuine emotion or originality into its work.

I was really curious when Twins Hinahima, the first AI-generated anime film, came out earlier this year. Unfortunately, it didn’t really deliver. Critics and viewers were pretty harsh on it, and honestly, I can see why. The art and animation were…rough, to say the least, and the story felt like a bunch of familiar anime ideas just thrown together. They even tried to explain the poor quality within the film itself, which felt a little…off. It showed AI can create something visually, and even string together a script, but it’s nowhere near the quality of amazing anime like The Apothecary Diaries or Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. It definitely doesn’t come close to the timeless classics we all love.

Anime Fans Will Lose Interest in the Idea of AI Anime Long Before Any Official Series or Movies Can be Made

Despite all the excitement, current AI technology, particularly in art creation, isn’t as impressive as many believe. While AI has made huge strides recently, progress seems to be slowing, and some experts think we’re reaching its limits. If these concerns are valid, AI is unlikely to achieve true creative intelligence.

Despite the hype, current AI technology simply can’t create anime. The project Twins Hinahima was advertised as being 95% AI-generated, but that’s misleading. While AI assisted in creating 95% of the scenes, significant human effort was still required throughout the entire production—from writing the story to animating the visuals. Even a show as unremarkable as Twins Hinahima wouldn’t be possible without human artists. Most animation studios are currently exploring how to use AI as a tool, rather than relying on it to create entire anime productions. And Twins Hinahima demonstrates that, in terms of quality, studios would be better served by continuing to employ human artists. AI has a long way to go before it can match human creativity, and it’s likely to become obsolete long before it reaches that point.

For over 60 years, anime has captivated audiences, and despite many changes over the decades, it’s always had a uniquely human quality that makes each series and movie special. Because artificial intelligence can only learn from existing human work, it won’t be able to recreate this essential element, meaning it’s unlikely to ever be a successful tool for creating original anime.

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2025-10-22 03:39