Anime’s darling WIT Studio, makers of Attack on Titan and the upcoming One Piece remake, just went toe-to-toe with its own fans — and lost. The studio released an apology after receiving backlash from its use of generative AI in the opening sequence (OP) of Ascendance of a Bookworm.
The anime series debuted in early April, but was immediately criticized when fans noticed tiny distortions throughout the OP. Although one of the most well-known studios in the space, WIT isn’t above the use of generative AI. While it’s withdrawing the OP and replacing it with a “completed version,” it feels as AI’s influence in the anime industry is starting to fester.
We saw how things went in late 2025, when Amazon tried using AI-generated dubbing to speed up production for shows like Banana Fish, Vinland Saga, No Game No Life: Zero, and more. The company hoped no one would notice, but the translations were so poor it was hard not to. Like WIT, Amazon walked back the use of AI and replaced the fumbled translations. However, that didn’t stop the multi-billion dollar company from posting a new opening for an undisclosed AI dubbing platform in January 2026.
AI’s encroachment on anime doesn’t stop there. In 2025, Toei Animation — the studio behind One Piece and Dragon Ball — released a 10-year, 100 billion yen ($650 million) plan to expand its reach globally. One of the main tenets in the plan was to embrace next-gen technology, like AI, VR, and AR.
While many online were frightened by the mention of AI, I think the scariest part of Toei’s announcement was the goal to increase its IP creation threefold. That’s no easy feat. Animated TV series take time to bring to life, with most productions lasting around one to two years for completion. Even with the addition of new studios across the globe, a much larger workload means you’re bound to see some cutting corners.
Working conditions in the anime industry are already pitiful at best. Adding AI to the equation assuredly won’t solve the problem. In fact, it will only lead to a far worse outcome if left unchecked.
WIT, like many other studios in the industry, is facing immense pressure to release content on a consistent basis. It only makes sense why it would dip its toes into the mix, especially given that WIT Studio reportedly lost 170 million yen in the fiscal year ending May 2025. There’s a level of necessity to satisfy the heightened demand for anime today that makes the use of AI almost an inevitability in the industry — and WIT’s recent actions only solidify my conviction.
If you thought the example set by WIT was bad, think again. This won’t be the last time you’ll see AI in anime.
