Japan’s AI Stance Is Betraying Its Anime Artists
From Studio Ghibli to Pokemon, the country’s creatives have driven its influence and must be protected.
A battleground to watch.
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
Japan’s artists have given the nation an outsize influence around the globe, with manga, anime and other cultural exports producing some of the world’s most beloved figures — while its once-dominant tech sector sputtered.
From Dragon Ball to Pokemon and Studio Ghibli, this body of ingenuity emanating from the minds and hearts of its people is what has made Japan uniquely Japan. But now, its creative industries are under threat as the emergence of artificial intelligence tools make it easy for anyone to mimic these art forms. The country must update its laws to protect the people whose works have defined its culture.