Generative AI sparks controversy in manga and digital art sectors

The integration of generative artificial intelligence into creative industries is sparking significant controversy and strategic shifts. In the manga sector, the work ‘Senpai, Kyorigan Baguttemasu!’ reached fourth place in a Japanese newcomer contest, only to face intense backlash from readers. Critics pointed to visual inconsistencies, such as repetitive character faces and distorted panels, as evidence of AI usage. The author, Mushimatsu, faced criticism for competing against traditional artists, highlighting ongoing debates regarding legal loopholes in self-publishing platforms.

Similarly, in the digital art community, an illustrator known as TAKA reported an incident where a user took their ‘Project Sekai’ fanart, processed it through an AI generator, and reposted the modified version. The artist’s attempt to report the content was unsuccessful as platform moderators ruled it did not violate community standards, leading to a complex dispute over copyright and platform rules.

Meanwhile, China is treating AI-generated video as a strategic industrial sector, providing subsidies and computing resources to attract specialized studios. While production capacity is surging—with over 221,000 AI-generated programs appearing on a major Chinese platform in the first half of 2026—the commercial success rate remains low. Only 0.5% of these productions achieved over 100 million views, illustrating a gap between the ease of content production and the ability to create viral, high-quality media.