AI-Generated Animation: Implement Legal Regulations to Protect Copyright Holders

Editorial

15:48 JST, April 13, 2026

Unauthorized videos featuring characters that look exactly like the protagonists and other characters in Japanese anime and manga are rampant on social media.

These videos are believed to have been created by third parties using generative artificial intelligence without obtaining the copyright holder’s permission as required by the Copyright Law. It is unclear whether they have been posted simply for fun or to generate profit by boosting view counts.

Regardless of the motive, it is unacceptable for third parties to edit copyrighted works — into which creators have invested their time and effort — and post them online without authorization. If this situation is left unresolved, it will undermine creators’ motivation and Japan’s content industry could be harmed.

The government should face up to the negative aspects of AI technology and seriously tackle this issue to protect copyright holders and their works.

These unauthorized videos are believed to have been created using video-creation services provided by AI companies. For example, there are videos showing Doraemon fighting Ultraman, or the protagonist of “Demon Slayer” causing a traffic problem.

The Copyright Law states that its purpose is to “ensure protection for the rights of authors and other such persons” and to “contribute to culture development.” It stipulates that third parties must obtain the copyright holder’s authorization, in principle, when using copyrighted works such as paintings, novels and anime.

However, according to an organization comprising anime production companies and other entities, there are no confirmed instances of authorization being approved by the copyright holders regarding the problematic videos currently on social media.

Given these circumstances, the government plans to investigate suspected incidents of copyright infringement and overseas litigation cases involving copyrighted works. It reportedly intends to advise the anime industry and other relevant parties on how to respond, including filing lawsuits, in cases of apparent copyright infringement.

The anime industry consists mostly of small and midsize firms, as well as microenterprises. If such a business were to file a lawsuit individually against a major AI company for offering a service that enables the creation of unauthorized videos, it would place a significant burden on the plaintiff. It is only natural for the government to cooperate with such businesses.

Late last year, the Cabinet Office compiled a draft code of conduct for AI companies. It calls for copyright and other intellectual property rights not to be infringed when copyrighted works and data are used for AI training, but no penalties are mentioned in the draft. Many people have questioned the code’s effectiveness.

In the first place, the current situation has apparently stemmed from the government’s move to amend the law in 2018 to allow copyrighted works to be used for AI training without the authorization of the holder of the rights, making it possible to create AI-generated unauthorized content, including videos that mimic works of animation.

The risk of copyrighted works being imitated and devalued by AI is not limited to animation. Efforts must be made to put the brakes on unauthorized AI training.

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2026)