Crunchyroll Anime Awards Director Discusses Future Tech Competition

Renee Senzatimore
2026-01-18 03:30:00

The rapid evolution of AI tech has created a problematic hurdle for creatives who now face the possibility of losing potential dream jobs to content-generating programs. Recognizing how this tech is reshaping the anime industry, Kiyotaka Oshiyama — the director of the 2024 drama anime movie Look Back — anticipates a future where studio executives might be more inclined to rely on algorithms rather than artists.

Per Comic Natalie, Oshiyama recently spoke at a preview event for the “Look Back Theatrical Anime Exhibition,” an art showcase dedicated to the feature that won Anime Film of the Year at the Crunchyroll 2025 Anime Awards. Here, onlookers gathered to admire concept art, storyboards and other production materials related to Look Back.

Look Back Anime Movie Director on the Age of AI and Dealing With ‘Problem Creators’

Image via Studio Durian

During this event, Oshiyama was asked to address how the “age of AI” will impact anime production. His explanation brought up several key factors, including “labor costs” and “problem creators,” the latter implicitly referring to those whose personal creation vision conflicts with the industry’s goals.

Notably, Japan’s modern-day anime industry is closely intertwined with other mediums. The vast majority of works that are produced are based on manga, manhwa (Korean comics) or light novels. This is largely because of the high costs that come with anime production, which strongly incentivizes studios to select works with pre-established followings. “The biggest cost in animation is labor costs,” Oshyama pointed out. “On top of that, there are quite a lot of problem creators (laughs), so AI might be easier to deal with.”

While Oshiyama’s answer is given with a trace of humor, it touches upon the fact that the vision of an artist can detract from that of a director or studio executive. Whether a studio is dealing with an IP’s original creator or trying to get a new IP off the ground, the risk of conflict is always present when dealing with artists.

Accordingly, AI, which inherently lacks both the ability or drive to counter with a perspective of its own, might appear to be the more attractive option. “When AI becomes smarter than most engineers, I think those in charge of managing a team will have to decide which ones to choose,” Oshiyama said.

Some anime studios have already experimented greatly with the AI option. In March 2025, Frontier Works and KaKa Creation released Twins Hinahima — a 24-minute TV special credited as the world’s first nationally broadcast AI anime. As additional AI production models continue to arise, many high-profile creators — including Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno — have concluded that further industry restructuring and job loss is essentially inevitable.

“…since it already exists, I think we have no choice but to accept it while simultaneously exploring how to deal with it…” Anno stated in a recent interview. “…It’s likely there’s no difference between a script written by A.I. and one written by a human.”

Despite the pessimism of creatives like Anno, Oshiyama is confident in the fact that AI will never completely replace artists and writers who are at the top of their game. “I’m hopeful, but I think AI will have a hard time imitating the aesthetic sense and technical skills of the very best,” he stated. “There are traditional craftsmen and Living National Treasures in the anime industry.” Although Oshiyama famously credits the overwhelming critical success of Look Back to “luck”, he now has a solid foundation upon which to continue building his own directorial legacy.