Recently, the creator of Goodnight Punpun has made some bold statements regarding the use of Artificial intelligence in manga creations, which has started an intense debate in the animanga community. Asano has revealed that the publishers have imposed restrictions on the use of AI, and it is one of the reasons his recent work, Mujina Into the Deep, continues to be on haitus.
He spoke all of this during an appearance he had at the Japanese talk show known as WEEKLY OCHIAI. During his segment, Asano got to share his thoughts bout AI-assisted workflows, 3D environment, and how the current development of technology has the potential to reshape the future of the manga industry. This creator is most popularly known for creating Goodnight Punpun (also known as Oyasumi Punpun) and Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction.
The creator has explained that he is already using technology during his creative process. Basically, for building 3D environments for Mujina Into the Deep by using Unreal Engine and Blender. This creator has made a statement that more than 90% of the backgrounds added in this manga are produced with the help of tools. He has combined both purchased and self-made assets.
These are some bold statements to make on-air because anime and manga fans are not really open to the idea of creators relying on technology to help create series. It is because there is prejudice attached that readers believe that this is cutting corners. But it is important to understand that sometimes a mangaka choosing to adapt to recent times and relying on technology just as a booster to get their ideas translated into reality might not be a bad move.
He further explained that this uncertainty surrounding AI is one of several reasons Mujina Into the Deep has been placed on hiatus until 2027. The creator of Goodnight Punpun went on to make one of his strongest statements during the interview, arguing that AI could dramatically improve both efficiency and quality in manga production.
“In the current state of things, mangaka are not allowed to use AI. But using AI actually drives up the quality by a mile. Maybe they suddenly lift the ban next year, so it might be better to start drawing after that happens. I’m currently on standby in that sense.”
While Goodnight Punpun’s creator did not really go into details on how he wants to use AI with his current workflow, he just clarified that his main interest is to ensure that the process of creation and organization of a 3D environment gets done faster. He does not want to replace artistic drawings. This is a reasonable use because the creator is still working on a series, and using the tool will help them finish their goals faster and not burn them out.
Goodnight Punpun creator explains how Unreal Engine changed Mujina Into the Deep
Goodnight Punpun’s creator has revealed that initially Mujina Into the Deep was supposed to be a more grounded story, which focused on a middle-aged man who lived in a shopping district. But once he started to work on creating a town which was made in a way that could be explored as it was a 3D environment, this project became more action-heavy.
During the discussion, host Yoichi Ochiai asked whether generative AI could simplify the enormous task of creating and arranging countless 3D assets across such a large digital world. Asano responded that the technology is certainly capable of doing so, but acknowledged that the bigger issue is how much AI creators are currently permitted to use.
Additionally, this mangaka has also shared that his recent work has taken inspiration from games like Grand Theft Auto (GTA). Bascually open world video games gave him an idea to make a world that could be explored before developing the story. For him, making an environment allowed him to naturally unfold a story hidden within it.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, regardless of where the debate ultimately lands, Goodnight Punpun creators’ remarks have once again placed the future of AI in manga production at the center of industry conversations, highlighting the difficult balance between technological innovation and artistic tradition.
Edited by Nisarga Kakade