One Piece animator is “confused” by Toei AI controversy
Toei Animation has sparked controversy with its artificial intelligence (AI) plans, but what does it mean, including for the One Piece anime?
One Piece animator Vincent Chansard has said “everyone’s as confused as me” when it comes to Toei Animation’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) plans, and honestly? Don’t blame yourself if you are too.
The use of AI in art is a hotly debated topic these days. Movie marketing campaigns like Megalopolis and Thunderbolts, TV shows such as True Detective, and even YouTubers Vikkstar and JCS have all come under fire for using the tech.
Similarly, anime studios haven’t been immune to the controversy. Crunchyroll walked back on plans to use AI in the creative process, while ChatGPT’s AI image generator faced backlash for its Studio Ghibli style ‘art’.
Now, with Toei Animation – the powerhouse studio behind One Piece, Dragon Ball, and Sailor Moon – reportedly exploring AI integration, further questions have been raised. But the latest news has caused confusion, so here’s what you need to know.
Will Toei use AI in anime?Toei AnimationThe short answer is yes, AI is part of Toei’s plans for the future. This was revealed in the studio’s financial report for the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2025, stating that it had invested in Preferred Networks, Inc., an AI startup.
“With an eye on launching a joint venture, we will seek to co-develop new business opportunities and improve the efficiency and quality of our production, capitalizing on synergies between AI and animation production technologies,” says the report.
RelatedStreamer Asmongold blasts artists upset by AI art: “Focus on a career change”
The plan is to apply AI to various processes of anime production, including storyboarding, coloring and color specification, in-betweening, and background generation. However, the report doesn’t specify which of Toei’s shows this technology will be applied to or when.
While the use of AI is framed as a solution to streamline production and improve efficiency, it’s also seen as a response to growing issues within the anime industry – namely, a severe animator labor shortage.
Studios across Japan have struggled to recruit and retain skilled workers, as the demands of the job often outweigh the benefits. Many animators work as freelancers with little job security, facing intense deadlines, long hours, and extremely low pay.
CrunchyrollDespite the global success of anime, entry-level animators in Japan are often paid below minimum wage, with burnout becoming a widespread and persistent issue.
In fact, the United Nations Human Rights Council released a report in 2024 that directly called out exploitative labor practices in the animation sector, emphasizing the toll it takes on workers’ mental and physical health.
It highlighted how despite the growth of the sector, “annual starting salaries of animators stand at a mere 1.5 million yen (roughly $10,000).”
The report urged Japanese studios to improve working conditions, offer fair wages, and reduce dependence on unpaid or overworked freelance labor.
While AI might help alleviate the burden by automating tedious tasks, critics argue it risks replacing human artists rather than empowering them, potentially worsening the crisis.
Taking to X/Twitter, one fan wrote, “Toei has over 1000 staff, why do they need AI? This is going to ruin the One Piece anime. I mean they already are sellouts for how they censor Super and Daima by removing the blood and gore, but nooooo they want to do this too.”
Another said, “The short-term efficiency might sound great, but Toei’s AI adoption risks long-term damage to the craft of anime. Background artists, in-betweeners, colorists – these aren’t just ‘replaceable roles.’ They’re stepping stones in an artist’s growth. Lose them, and you lose the next generation of talent.”
However, not everyone is as apprehensive. “I don’t see the problem. Many people use AI for brainstorming, getting more ideas, and routine tasks,” commented one. “With that they will speed up the animation process, reduce costs, and have more time to be creative and greatly improve the overall quality.”
What does this mean for One Piece?Much of the Toei AI debate has focused on how this will be implemented in the One Piece anime, but according to insiders, it’s said to be more of a PR stunt. Even if it is used in Eiichiro Oda’s work, don’t expect it to happen soon.
As stated by One Piece animator Vincent Chansard, “Have been talking to everyone I know on this AI thing but it seems everyone’s as confused as me.
“Right now it just feels like an overblown disconnected PR-esque statement like ‘look how we are an innovative company’ aimed at shareholders with no concrete real life production change.”
One fan replied, “I really hope they don’t use AI on the One Piece anime,” to which Chansard replied, “If that’s your concern, there’s no concern at this point.”
“But the company is large, and I’m not aware of what’s happening across all teams; I’m continuing to keep myself informed,” he added.
What’s more, One Piece leaker Pew shared on X/Twitter on May 18, “Toei Animation staff confirms that One Piece production process will remain unchanged despite recent AI news.
“Toei’s announcement appears to be a PR move rather than a shift in anime production. Fans need not worry about sudden changes in animation style or quality.”
So, right now there’s no need to panic. Like any artform, AI is changing things up in the animation world, but it will no doubt be some time before it becomes a major force in long-running productions like One Piece.
Ultimately, the debate isn’t just about AI vs art. It’s about whether studios will use technology to ease pressure on animators and improve working conditions, or whether it will be exploited to cut costs at the expense of talent and creativity.
In the meantime, check out our ranking of the strongest One Piece characters, how many episodes of the anime there are, and every One Piece saga ranked.
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