On December 13, Frontier Works and KaKa Creation announced the production of a new anime adaptation of the TikToker duo Twins HinaHima, known for their activities on TikTok and YouTube. The anime is scheduled for release in spring 2025. The production involves the use of AI, with a team comprising animators, art directors, cinematographers, and CG staff who have contributed to Netflix Originals and TV series. Additionally, a statement explaining the context of AI usage and interviews with Makoto Tezuka and Yoshikazu Yasuhiko were released.

Story Overview

Twins HinaHima follows twin high school freshmen living in Tokyo: Himari, the elder sister with silver hair, and Hinana, the younger sister with red hair. Aspiring to go viral on TikTok, the duo initially focuses on dance videos and gradually experiments with other trendy ideas. However, as they begin to notice peculiar anomalies, they find themselves drawn into a strange, mysterious world.

In the teaser video, Himari is shown with her hair blowing in the wind—a scene created using AI. In the key visual, the central theme of "anomalies" is portrayed through AI techniques.

The Concept of "Supportive AI"

A statement detailing the core values of the project, emphasizing the idea of "Supportive AI," was also published. Below is the full text:

AI technology has rapidly integrated into everyday life, bringing both possibilities and challenges. It has also become a prominent tool in creative fields. However, the gap between creators and AI remains significant, and discussions often stall without tangible progress.

In response to this situation, our two companies believe in the concept of AI as "a supportive tool for creators"—a notion we call "Supportive AI." By overcoming challenges and using AI correctly, we aim to harness its potential to benefit the creative process. We see two primary uses for AI in this context:

1.Efficiency: Reducing the workload caused by the massive volume of tasks in anime production, which contributes to staff shortages and extended working hours.
2.New Expressions: Achieving creative expressions that were previously difficult with traditional techniques such as hand-drawing or CGI.

■Specific Use of AI in the Project
In this project, traditional tools like Adobe and Celsys products are used alongside AI technologies. Over 95% of the cuts in the anime benefited from AI-assisted workload reduction, while final adjustments were made by hand to ensure quality. The key visual was created as follows:

Characters: Fully hand-drawn using CLIP STUDIO PAINT.
Backgrounds: Photographs were transformed into anime-style backgrounds using AI, then retouched by art staff.
Logo: Fully hand-drawn with Adobe Illustrator.
Special Effects: Processed with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After Effects.

■Why Use AI?
As AI-generated content becomes widespread, it is crucial to prioritize quality and creativity in anime production. This project aims to achieve high-quality AI-assisted works with staff who are well-versed in anime creation.

Anime production involves labor-intensive processes across various stages, leading to prolonged production timelines and increased workload—barriers for new creators entering the industry. By using AI as an assistive tool, we hope to streamline workflows, improve working conditions, and allow creators to focus on their craft.

Through Twins HinaHima, we aim to address the industry's challenges, such as staff shortages, productivity issues, and creator treatment, while ensuring anime remains a sustainable and vibrant art form for the future.

Comments from Top Creators on AI and Creativity

■Interview with Makoto Tezuka

Q: Previously, you were involved in a project that used AI as a support tool to create new works based on Osamu Tezuka's legacy. Could you share your thoughts on AI and creativity?

Makoto Tezuka: That project was led by NEDO, a research organization under the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. It explored developing story-driven content and image generation using AI, using Osamu Tezuka's works as a case study. It was primarily a research initiative.

Q: Some people may feel uneasy about technology that can replicate a deceased creator’s style. How do you perceive these concerns?

Makoto Tezuka: Innovation always faces resistance. When computer graphics emerged in the 1980s, people feared it might replace actors or directors. However, it didn't eliminate those roles; it expanded creative possibilities. AI is similar—it's just another tool. What's important is how audiences react to the final work, not the tools used.

■Interview with Yoshikazu Yasuhiko

Q: Do you think AI could help alleviate the industry's staff shortages?

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko: AI could raise the baseline quality where resources are currently stretched thin. It could handle tasks like in-between frames or background characters, allowing animators to focus on core elements like acting and flow.

Q: Why do you think AI learning is criticized while similar practices, like referencing photos in animation, are accepted?

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko: AI learning mirrors human learning—it’s about selective adaptation, not copying. Animation has always evolved through learning and discarding unnecessary elements.

Q: Do you have any areas where you’d like AI to assist?

Yoshikazu Yasuhiko: For anime, I'd welcome help with in-between frames and background characters. However, as a manga artist, I still prefer to handle the creative process myself.

Source : ORICON NEWS