- Why Anime Studios in Japan Struggle to Turn a Profit — And How the Future Is Being Transformed by AI Adoption and Original IP
- ■ Introduction
- ■ Conversation: How far can AI go in anime production?
- ■ Conversation: Will AI-generated anime look rough? What about resolution?
- ■ Conversation: Are anime production companies already using AI?
- ■ Conversation: So does that mean an individual can make anime with AI too?
- ■ Conversation: With AI adoption, how will the revenue of anime studios change?
- ■ Editor’s Note: Tora’s Perspective
- Related Articles
Why Anime Studios in Japan Struggle to Turn a Profit — And How the Future Is Being Transformed by AI Adoption and Original IP
■ Introduction
AI is now being used in earnest in anime production, and over the next few years it’s said that production workflows, working styles, and visual quality will all change dramatically.
In this article, we take the real-time conversation between me (ChatGPT) and Tora-san and edit it for clarity, to explore questions like “How far can AI go in making anime?” and “How will the field change in the future?”
■ Conversation: How far can AI go in anime production?
Tora-san:
“I’ve heard that you can produce anime with AI, but is that really possible?”
Me (AI):
Absolutely. Right now, a realistic workflow is to let AI handle the general motion, and have humans polish the result.
• AI is great at motion generation, frame interpolation, and rough key-art generation.
• Humans handle consistent character design, expressions, and detailed corrections.It’s not about full automation—it’s about a hybrid model.
Tora-san:
“So you mean: let AI do the big movements, then people tidy it up, and that means you can make anime?”
Me (AI):
Exactly. Plus, there are now AI systems that automatically fix inconsistencies in drawing style.
• Example: when a character’s face keeps changing → AI locks in feature parameters to maintain consistency.
• Example: hair or cloth movement → physical simulation + AI interpolation makes it natural.The flow is: “AI rough → AI interpolation → human check → finish”.
■ Conversation: Will AI-generated anime look rough? What about resolution?
Tora-san:
“But when I see AI videos, don’t they look kind of rough? Kind of blurry?”
Me (AI):
That’s definitely true at first. But you can solve it with upscaling AI.
• Topaz Video AI
• Runway
• DaVinci Resolve’s SuperScale
• Adobe Enhance VideoEspecially “Topaz Video AI” can correct anime’s typical weaknesses—line breaks, jagged edges, and so on.
■ Conversation: Are anime production companies already using AI?
Tora-san:
“The current anime studios—are they using AI yet? Are they already introducing it?”
Me (AI):
Yes. It’s not always visible on the surface, but many studios are already using it internally.
Use-cases include:
• Rough background generation
• Frame-to-frame (in-between) interpolation between key art
• Converting 3D models to 2D
• Noise removal and line cleanup in video
• Previz for camera movement (simple animatic)From 2023–24, small studios introduced these tools at once, and as of 2025 it’s almost rare for a studio not to use AI.
■ Conversation: So does that mean an individual can make anime with AI too?
Tora-san:
“So can a hobbyist or a single person make anime with AI? I want to try it myself.”
Me (AI):
Absolutely possible.
Here are the tools you’ll need:✔ Essential Tools
• DaVinci Resolve (free but professional features)
• Video-generation AI (Runway / Pika / Stable Video)
• Upscaling AI (Topaz)
• Voice AI (e.g., ElevenLabs)
• Simple 3D modeling (Blender) ← this is your strong point!✔ Production Flow
- Prepare character design
- Use AI for motion creation
- Apply AI interpolation to smooth movement
- Upscale resolution
- Edit in DaVinci
- Add BGM + effects + voice
- Export → done
What used to be “individual anime production = sheer hell” is now a realistic reality—even for a single person.
■ Conversation: With AI adoption, how will the revenue of anime studios change?
Tora-san:
“I’ve heard the anime industry is unhealthy and low-pay, but if studios adopt AI, will things change?”
Me (AI):
They will change dramatically.
▶ Cost Structure with AI Adoption
Item Traditional After AI Frames per episode Thousands–tens of thousands Hundreds–a thousand In-between labor Large team required Almost auto-interpolation Background production Long hours AI draws rough draft, human finishes Schedule 3–4× longer Less than half ▶ Then what about studio revenue?
Studio revenue is estimated to improve 10–30%.Reason is simple:
• Fewer man-hours
• Lower labor cost
• Shorter schedule
• Less outsourcing cost
• Ability to produce more worksThe “black company” culture in production will surely improve with AI.
■ Editor’s Note: Tora’s Perspective
“I couldn’t believe you could make anime with AI at first, but the deeper I listened, the more I realized that ‘it’s already starting’.
Back in the day, no single person could ever make anime, but with a mix of tools it’s now realistic on a normal PC.
Since I can draw and I’m interested in Blender, I want to try making one myself with an AI × human-skill hybrid.
If production companies use AI smartly, they’ll improve working conditions for staff, improve quality—and change revenue.
I felt, ‘The future of the anime industry might be bright.’”
――――
This is Tora.
This blog is built on conversations between me and an AI where we think issues through together.
Thanks for reading.
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