Blurring the lines between inspiration and appropriation, AI manga has long been seen as a controversial topic in Japan. Considered a major threat to creators’ livelihoods, many believe stricter guidelines should be put in place to protect artists. Last month, 17 of the nation’s biggest publishing houses formed an alliance in defense of the “very foundations of the content industry.” Yet, the legality of AI-generated manga is a complex and much discussed issue as it operates largely in a gray area.
Manga Suspected of Using AI Wins Three Awards
The debate reignited recently after the official announcement of the results of the 36th edition of Young Jump’s Rookie Awards. Mikuni no Hane Hanezamsama, submitted by Morinaga Burubon, won three prizes: Honorable Mention, Best Work of the Month, and Debut Author, with the artist receiving a considerable ¥430,000. Many people online, however, believe the manga was created using AI. They listed various details they found suspicious. This included inconsistent character designs, body proportion errors, overly glossy lines, and backgrounds that appeared to be pasted together. The story was also heavily criticized.
“Before even considering whether it’s AI-generated, I’m just amazed that you could pick something as awful and utterly incomprehensible as this,” posted one X user. “Calling it a ‘story’ is a stretch. I tried reading it, but I had no clue what it was even about: The flow of the story, the dialogue, not even the intent of what it was trying to convey. It was all so disjointed and incoherent that I couldn’t make heads or tails of it. A first-grader’s diary would be more readable.”
Calls For an Investigation
Others feel that manga not drawn by hand should not be considered for such an award. “AI should be treated as a separate category exclusive to AI. It should not be evaluated in a mix with hand-drawn works,” wrote another X user. While the award’s rules do not explicitly prohibit the use of AI, calls for Young Jump‘s publisher, Shueisha, to investigate the matter and enforce stricter guidelines regarding AI have been growing. So far, however, the company has not issued an official statement.
