Legendary Director Rintaro Warns Against AI in Animation

Legendary anime director Rintaro recently shared his concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in the creative process. During the 2026 Busan International Film Festival, the 85 year old filmmaker spoke about how technology might change the way artists approach their work.

Rintaro feels that people are becoming too dependent on machine instructions rather than relying on their own independent thinking. He used the example of a parent using a tablet to teach a child how to draw, noting that this method might limit a person's ability to develop their own artistic style or unique vision.

For fans of classic animation, his words carry a lot of weight. He believes that original storytelling requires a human touch that cannot be replaced by automated systems. As AI becomes more common in the industry, Rintaro hopes that creators continue to prioritize their own imagination over pre programmed results.