A wave of controversy has erupted in the Japanese anime and manga community after the son of legendary manga artist Osamu Tezuka, often hailed as the “God of Manga,” announced the use of AI technology to recreate and continue his father’s iconic legacy. While some see it as a bold step into the future, many fans and artists have called it a disrespectful act, sparking intense backlash.
Legacy Under the Lens
Osamu Tezuka’s influence is foundational to the modern manga and anime industries. Known for masterpieces such as “Astro Boy,” “Black Jack,” and “Phoenix,” Tezuka’s storytelling, expressive characters, and cinematic panel layouts redefined the art form. His pioneering work, especially “Astro Boy,” helped establish TV anime as a medium and tackled themes like AI ethics, war, and discrimination, decades ahead of their time.
But now, decades after his passing, controversy erupts.
Controversy
During a panel titled “The Future of AI-Driven Animation Expression” at the 3rd Niigata International Animation Film Festival, Makoto Tezuka, a film and anime director himself, revealed that he’s spent the past five years training an AI model using Osamu Tezuka’s manga as learning data. His goal? To develop a new anime series that mimics his father’s unique visual style.
“I think recreating the original author’s drawings is a vital axis in animation,” said Makoto. “By having AI learn the manga and output animation frames, we can even replicate the subtlest nuances and stay closer to the original. This is a creative work that will surely please audiences.”
He added, “This is exactly what I’ve been researching for the past five years… to see if I could create an anime in Osamu Tezuka’s style. What I can say is: ‘Animation can be created using the lines drawn by Osamu Tezuka.’”
Backlash from Artists and Fans Alike
Despite Makoto’s intentions, reactions across Japanese and international platforms have been overwhelmingly negative. Fans and artists have accused him of disrespecting Tezuka’s legacy and relying on technology instead of creative spirit.
One outraged user wrote, “God, I hate Makoto Tezuka. Every time I see something about him, it’s awful and disrespectful to his father’s legacy.”
Another chimed in, “Imagine your son spends five years trying to recreate your work, not in an original way, but in a glitchy, messy, and flawed one.”
Makoto Tezuka, who owns part of Tezuka Productions, is known for directing works like “Barbara,” “Hakuchi: The Innocent,” and “Moment.” While his AI project is still in its early stages, its stated goal is to analyze Osamu Tezuka’s visual and narrative style to generate a new manga series.
A Broader AI Dilemma: Creative Tribute or Disrespectful Emulation?
This isn’t the first time AI has stirred tensions in the creative community. The global rise of AI-generated art has raised legal, ethical, and philosophical questions, especially when it mimics the style of real, often living, artists without permission. In Japan, where manga and anime culture holds deep cultural significance, the use of AI in this context feels particularly intrusive.
The debate rages on: Is this an evolution of art through technology, or a misguided attempt to resurrect what cannot be replicated?
In a world where AI increasingly intersects with human creativity, this case shines a harsh light on the fine line between honoring a legacy and overstepping artistic boundaries.
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