TV Asahi to use generative AI for 1,000+ cuts in new ninja drama

TV Asahi is set to broadcast a new ninja action period drama, ‘Sanada Ten Braves: SHADOWS OF THE TEN NINJA’, starting October 23, 2026. The production marks a significant milestone in media technology, utilizing generative AI for over 1,000 cuts throughout the series.

Starring Hikaru Iwamoto, the project aims to blend historical fiction with fantasy elements. The decision to integrate AI was driven by the desire to reduce the physical strain on actors during complex action sequences and to achieve supernatural movements that defy physical laws. The AI implementation follows three primary methods: full AI generation of action scenes based on reference footage, replacing backgrounds in live-action shots, and extending live-action movements with AI-generated imagery.

Production partner aicrew Inc. is collaborating on the AI-driven action sequences and specific generative AI scenes. The company aims to use AI not merely for efficiency, but as a tool to expand human creativity and create dynamic visual expressions that combine the physicality of live-action with the limitless possibilities of artificial intelligence.