"Ascendance of a Bookworm" OP Replaced After Generative AI Use Discovered; WIT STUDIO Apologizes for "Inadequate Production Management"

The official X (formerly Twitter) account for the TV anime Ascendance of a Bookworm issued a statement on April 10 regarding the currently airing season, Ascendance of a Bookworm: Daughter of a Lord. The production committee revealed that generative AI was found to have been used in the opening sequence. As a result, the footage will be replaced starting with Episode 2 (airing tomorrow), and the creditless opening video previously available on YouTube has been taken down. Simultaneously, the animation studio, WIT STUDIO, released a detailed explanation and apology on its official website.

On the official anime X account, a document titled "[Notice] Report and Apology Regarding the Opening Video of the TV Anime Ascendance of a Bookworm: Daughter of a Lord" was posted. The statement reported: "Following a report and subsequent verification from the production company, WIT STUDIO Co., Ltd., it has been determined that materials created using generative AI were included in the production process for certain cuts of this series' opening sequence."

The statement continued, "In response to this matter, the Production Committee has consulted with WIT STUDIO and will implement the following measures: Starting from Episode 2, the opening video will be replaced with a version where the affected areas have been corrected. Regarding Episode 1, which has already been broadcast and distributed, we will sequentially replace it with the corrected version following the broadcast of Episode 2. For the Blu-ray BOX and DVD releases, if the replacement process causes a change in the release date, we will provide a separate notice."

The committee also offered an apology: "As a result of the many diverse opinions posted online and elsewhere regarding this matter, we deeply apologize to the viewers who are looking forward to the work, as well as to the original author and all related parties, for the great concern and inconvenience caused. Moving forward, we will work in cooperation with WIT STUDIO to review production systems and strive to prevent any recurrence."

In a follow-up post on X, they added: "Along with the replacement of the opening video in the anime itself, the creditless opening video previously released on our official YouTube and X accounts has been withdrawn. We sincerely apologize to everyone who was enjoying the video. A corrected creditless version is scheduled to be released after the broadcast of Episode 2."

WIT STUDIO, the company in charge of animation production, explained the background in a report titled "Report Regarding the Opening Video of the TV Anime Ascendance of a Bookworm: Daughter of a Lord."

"Regarding the anime Ascendance of a Bookworm: Daughter of a Lord (hereinafter referred to as 'this work') produced by our company, we conducted an investigation into the production process, including the opening video, based on the feedback received after April 4, 2026. As a result, it was confirmed that generative AI was used in the production process of certain cuts of the opening video," the studio reported.

Regarding the confirmed facts, the studio stated: "Generative AI was used to create materials in the background art production process for certain cuts of the opening video in Episode 1. In terms of future measures, we will redraw the background art for the affected cuts and replace the footage with the finished version using the redrawn materials starting with Episode 2."

The studio further clarified its stance: "As a company, we always keep a close eye on trends in new imaging technologies. However, until now, we have not, in principle (*), permitted the use of generative AI in the video production of our works, including this one. Despite this, the current situation arose solely due to inadequacies in our production management and inspection systems. We take our management responsibility for this series of events very seriously. As the production company for this work, we apologize to the fans, the original author, and all related parties."

They added, "To date, no use of generative AI has been confirmed in this work except for the aforementioned cuts. Furthermore, we wish to state that NAM HAI ART, the art director and background production company for this work, was in no way involved in the aforementioned facts."

The studio concluded by saying, "Taking this incident as a turning point, we will strive to prevent recurrence by re-establishing guidelines for the production process and reviewing our management system."
This work is a new anime based on the biblio-fantasy novel series Ascendance of a Bookworm: I'll Do Anything to Become a Librarian! (written by Miya Kazuki and published by TO Books), which depicts the daily struggles of Rozemyne, who chooses to live as the adopted daughter of a lord to protect her beloved family and friends.

Controversy regarding the use of generative AI erupted among fans after the first episode aired on April 4, when social media users pointed out that AI appeared to have been used for backgrounds in the opening sequence.

*Note: The experimental work "The Dog & The Boy (犬と少年)" was an exception created for the purpose of technical verification.

Source : ORICON NEWS