In the Manga industry in Japan, there are strict regulations regarding the use of AI. This leads an author to take an indefinite break until the regulations are relaxed.
Which author is behind it? Inio Asano is the author of “Goodnight Punpun” and is currently pausing his new manga “Mujina Into the Deep,” which has been running since 2023.
Above all, his manga Goodnight Punpun
is known for its emotional story. The story is narrated from the perspective of an 11-year-old whose father is an alcoholic and violent towards his mother. The mother is suicidal.
In the manga, he escapes from his daily life into fantasy worlds and even has to move in with his unemployed uncle when his father beats his mother into a coma and his parents divorce. The manga was created between 2007 and 2013, before the era of artificial intelligence. However, without AI, Asano refuses to continue his current work.
90% of the environments in the manga are created with AI
How does he use AI? As Asano reveals in a talk show, he first creates a 3D model of his environments in the manga. For this, he uses software like Blender or Unreal Engine.
This is part of his creative process. Before he develops any story, he wants to know how the environment is structured. He compares this to creating a video game like GTA. You can watch the interview here:
For example, he creates real places to obtain authentic layouts of cities. Based on that, he can then develop stories. He personally would operate this way for 90% of the environments in his manga.
Why is he taking a break? In Japan, the use of generative AI among professional artists is prohibited due to concerns about copyright infringement.
However, the use of AI dramatically accelerates Asano’s process. He doesn’t want to create the 3D models by hand. Therefore, he decides to put the manga on hold for now. He hopes that the ban on the use of AI will be lifted in 2027 and that he can return then.
What do you think? Do you find it terrible that Asano initially creates his environments using AI and develops his story based on that? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
Also in the anime sector, AI is frowned upon. Several companies have already attempted to replace real voice actors with AI voices. You can read how that is received here: Amazon releases several anime with AI voices, which are so bad that they shock fans
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