It is in this new age of revolutionary transformation in the animation industry using artificial intelligence technology that the line has been clearly stated by the producers of the successful anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba on the future path they plan on taking, as they illustrate in this organizational statement during the Astra Awards in Tokyo in 2026: “Our studio, Aniplex and Ufotable, will continue to work with our HAND-DRAWN artists, our writers, our voice actors, and the talent that helps bring this emotion to the big screen.” This proclamation becomes particularly effective in the wake of the current hegemony of this media property.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle Part 1 has already passed $770 million in box office estimates and cements in no uncertain terms not only a place in culture as a phenomenon and icon but also as a business giant as well. While financial imperatives often chart the course that technology should follow in the entertainment industry as a whole, the attitude adopted in this circumstance by ufotable is significant, not simply because it is an attitude of success.
Why Ufotable believes emotion cannot be automated
According to the officials of the studio leader, the underlying reasons for this lack of appreciation for AI have nothing to do with ideology and lie with the creation process for Demon Slayer. Some aspects of these themes have already been stated by writer and director Haruo Sotozaki; key moments in Demon Slayer, such as the sadness of Tanjiro and the smile of Rengoku, as well as the fear within the demon memories, have been expressed at the level of key frames.
Technologically, ufotable insists that its hybrid technique for producing animation is beyond the capabilities of the artificial intelligence technology that currently exists. The traditional look that is associated with productions undertaken by ufotable is created through a measured blend of 2D hand-drawn animation with 3D CG environments. According to various interviews that have been held in the past, it is much easier for such subtle things as line width, animation tempo, or light effects, for example, to destroy the deception, even using computer software, let alone artificial intelligence technology. This policy also transcends the visual aspects.
It was made clear by Ufotable and Aniplex that they would be devoted not only to original visuals but also to the recreation of these voices, in that they would not use AI. It is quite pertinent that the market for voice synthesis is actually becoming more affordable. This is in light of the growing concerns in the anime industry. Towards the latter part of 2025, some top anime were swept up in an internet scandal where some fans expressed their concerns regarding animation assistance from artificial intelligence.
Though it remains to be seen if the concerns are genuine, it is evident that the industry is in dire straits with the growing lack of trust from the industry and the fans. The specific emphasis within the marketing campaign for the Infinity Castle trilogy, which is all “handmade” in its construction, rests specifically with the human aspect being an advantage rather than an adversity with ufotable. Indeed, within this context, Demon Slayer transcends simply being an incredible success in its own right—it further becomes a resistance study.
With the growing trend towards automation in other industries, ufotable’s faith rests within the recognition that there is something which can be distinguished, something which can be intuited, between the constructed and the experienced. As an anime grounded in empathy, in sorrow, and in determination, it would seem the faith rests with the recognition of the human soul being its most significant and indispensable resource.
