Toei Animation Responds After Backlash to AI Plans: Denies Current Use, but Still Expects To Introduce It

Toei Animation, known for One Piece, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, and more, has updated its FY2025 (fiscal year 2025) presentation following backlash over the possibility that it was using artificial intelligence (AI) in its productions.

After its investment in the AI company Preferred Networks on April 30, Toei Animation had shared more details on the partnership’s aims in its financial results presentation on May 16, revealing it would “apply AI to various processes of animation production.“

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As seen above, these processes included AI-generated storyboards, layouts, backgrounds, as well as AI coloring and AI-generated in-between frames. The latter two included examples using a Precure character, prompting backlash in Japan and overseas over its potential use in the anime series. Toei Animation has since modified the presentation (image below), removing the images of the Precure character and storyboard and adding the following note:

“1) The storyboard, coloring/color coordination, and in-between animation are areas of production where AI is expected to improve work efficiency in the future. However, at present, we are not using AI technology for any of the storyboard, coloring/color coordination, and in-between animation processes listed above. 2) The background image is a use case example of Scenify, which was released by Preferred Networks and our company in 2021.“

The news may come as a reprieve for many fans and animators. Nevertheless, the section remains present under Toei Animation’s FY2026 outlook, perhaps indicating no particular shift in its short-term aims. The debate around AI in animation continues to provoke strong feelings, but many production companies press ahead. KADOKAWA added just last week that it was “actively investing” in AI for animation production.

Source: Page 20 – Toei Animation FY2025 Presentation (Japanese/Modified), Unmodified English version
Featured image © Eiichiro Oda / Shueisha / Toei Animation

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