In the realm of anime production, animators face a formidable adversary: Artificial Intelligence, capable of replicating or even surpassing their years of craftsmanship in mere minutes.
Iconic series like One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Naruto now contend with AI-generated animations that rival, and sometimes eclipse, the originals.
This trend has ignited heated debates within the industry, as it threatens the livelihoods of countless animators and editors who have dedicated years to their craft.
Many have voiced concerns over the encroachment of AI into a realm that demands human emotion and creativity.
Recently, a contentious incident unfolded on X (formerly Twitter) involving a One Piece animator accused of utilizing AI.
this is insane https://t.co/rR3U3LjGzB pic.twitter.com/ovj2e4azy8
— M1das (@M1das_OW2) February 17, 2024
A generative AI expert, Óscar Bartolomé, shared an AI-generated image of Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of One Piece, only to be corrected by José B. Rebolledo, a One Piece animator, who pointed out a small error in the image.
As tensions escalated, Bartolomé insinuated that Rebolledo might have resorted to AI for his illustrations.
However, Rebolledo countered, affirming his role as an animator for the original One Piece anime, devoid of AI assistance. One Piece fans swiftly rallied to Rebolledo’s defense against the accusations.
The dispute garnered attention on X, eliciting varied responses from fans. Many recognized the pervasive issue of AI accusations faced by creators and animators daily, with One Piece animators being no exception.
Saying “never in your wildest dreams would you be ever to make this” to someone when never in your wildest dreams would you ever be able to make it nor do you have the effort or spine to try to and instead use AI to shit out a soulless amalgamation of shape and colour is crazy https://t.co/NNGbVyl1NO
— 🐄 (@boredofmilk) February 18, 2024
Despite reaching a pinnacle of animation mastery, critics often speculate that external aids like AI are behind their achievements.
In the face of such allegations, fans vehemently defended the creators, ridiculing the notion of comparing One Piece’s human-crafted animation to AI-generated imagery.
While AI animation has advanced significantly, fans remain steadfast in their support for animators and editors, appreciating the human touch and emotional depth they infuse into their work—a quality AI can never replicate.
