Japan's anime industry looks to AI to solve labor crunch

TOKYO -- With generative artificial intelligence poised to trigger seismic shifts across society, Japan's animation industry is opening up to its potential to stem critical labor shortages, even as concerns about protecting creators abound.

Nagoya-based K&K Design introduced generative AI into its workflow last year to help with background art and coloring. "Background art that usually takes a week can now be done in five minutes," the company said.