Artificial intelligence has become one of the most controversial topics in creative industries, and anime is no exception, especially with Hayao Miyazaki's harsh criticisms. As new technologies reshape how stories are told, many animators and fans fear that human artistry will be diminished. Yet, during this year’s HYPER JAPAN event, veteran animator Mahiro Maeda offered a perspective that runs counter to these anxieties.

Best known for his work on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Neon Genesis Evangelion , Maeda was invited as the guest of honor to discuss his long career. In a conversation with anime scholar Helen McCarthy, he addressed the industry’s growing reliance on AI tools. Unlike Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, who has famously condemned AI as “an insult t

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