Evangelion Creator Hideaki Anno Says AI Taking Over Human Jobs is 'Acceptable'

Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno offered a pragmatic and somewhat surprising take on artificial intelligence, stating he finds it "acceptable" for AI to take over jobs traditionally done by humans in the anime and film industries. This viewpoint, revealed during a recent interview with Forbes Japan, signals a major shift in thinking from one of the industry's most influential creators, especially as production teams globally test AI integration into existing workflows.

Anno framed the rapid rise of AI as an unavoidable reality for the creative sector. He noted that since the technology already exists, creators have no choice but to accept its presence, even while acknowledging the widespread fears about job displacement across various sectors fueled by its convenience.

This stance is particularly significant given Anno's history of prioritizing realism and deeply human elements in his work, often drawing from intense personal struggles to craft complex characters like those in Evangelion.

His current commentary suggests a willingness to adapt to new technology that could potentially streamline the often grueling production process required for large-scale projects, such as complex mecha animation. While Anno has helmed his major projects through Gainax and later Khara, his comments strongly hint at how future animation might be approached in Japan.

The discussion lands amid broader industry changes, including reports that game developers in Japan are seeing AI handle up to 90% of coding in certain projects.