Demon Slayer Studio Embraces Human Talent Over AI

At least we have a clear stance from Tanjiro Kamado’s creators. As artificial intelligence continues to make waves in various sectors, the teams behind the latest Demon Slayer film, *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Infinity Castle*, took the opportunity on the red carpet to share their thoughts on AI’s role in animation.

“Our studio, Aniplex and Ufotable, will keep collaborating with our hand-drawn artists, writers, voice actors, and all the talented individuals who bring this emotion to life on the big screen,” stated Hikaru Kondô, the film’s writer and chief director, during the 2026 Astra Awards. *Infinity Castle* received a nomination for best animated feature and was honored with the Animation is Cinema award, raking in nearly $800 million at the box office and earning a Golden Globe nomination.

This declaration comes at a time when AI is rapidly permeating various industries, including animation. Last November, a major studio showcased an AI startup to illustrate how the technology could streamline the animation process while still involving human artists. This has led to a potential partnership that may see AI integrated into animation for television projects.

Conversely, studios like Aniplex and Ufotable, along with companies like Games Workshop, are making it clear that human creativity and artistry will always take precedence over artificial intelligence.

For Kondô, who also serves as president of Ufotable, the human touch is vital to the film’s creation. He personally contributed to storyboarding and carefully selected animators for specific scenes, collaborating with them to refine the film’s unique style.

“Ultimately, I oversee the entire storyboarding process,” he explained in a previous interview. “When you look at all the different scenes and shots in this film, we need to assign each shot to the right animator. Once everyone’s ideas are exchanged and everything is signed off, we discuss whether to start with 3D or 2D first. These are all conversations that happen in the studio.”

Given the success of *Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Infinity Castle*, it’s likely that many more of these discussions will take place in the future. While Kondô hasn’t confirmed whether *Infinity Castle* will be adapted for television like the previous film, *Mugen Train*, fans are eagerly anticipating its streaming release.