Following the announcement of the upcoming anime "Sekiro: No Defeat," its production studio, Qzil.la, has issued a statement to address fan concerns over the potential use of generative AI, confirming that the series will be traditionally hand-drawn.
Qzil.la released the statement on Twitter/X in Japanese, with an English translation provided to IGN via PR, to firmly assert that the "Sekiro" anime adaptation is being crafted entirely through hand-drawn 2D animation.
Official Notice Regarding the Production Methodology for 『SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT』 pic.twitter.com/yIwzzf9WXl
— SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT｜Anime Official (@sekiro_nd_anime) August 22, 2025
"We are thrilled to announce that 'Sekiro: No Defeat' will stream exclusively on Crunchyroll in 2026," the English statement reads. "This full adaptation is a completely hand-drawn 2D animation produced by the skilled teams at Qzil.la, ARCH, and Kadokawa. We confirm that no AI is being utilized in the creation or production of this anime. Fans can anticipate the same level of artistry and meticulous detail that characterized the original game, now brought to life in a new format."
"Sekiro: No Defeat" was unveiled during gamescom: Opening Night Live last week as an anime based on FromSoftware's acclaimed game "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice." The series is a collaborative project between Qzil.la, Kadokawa, and ARCH, scheduled for a Crunchyroll premiere in 2026.
Questions about AI use arose shortly after the announcement, as users on social media noted a statement on Qzil.la's website. The line, via translation, indicated the company aims to "maximize value per second for everyone in anime production" by "challenging conventional methods, collaborating with technically advanced partners, and utilizing the latest technologies, including AI, to evolve production processes and creative expression, driving digital disruption in the anime industry."
These concerns were amplified by recent controversy surrounding Crunchyroll itself, which faced criticism for employing ChatGPT to subtitle a new series. In 2024, CEO Rahul Purini expressed interest in such technology, but by April of this year, he told Forbes that Crunchyroll was "not considering AI in the creative process." The company later attributed the AI subtitle incident to a third-party vendor, pledging to investigate and resolve the problem.
"Sekiro: No Defeat" is directed by Kenichi Kutsuna with series composition by Takuya Satou. The voice cast features Daisuke Namikawa as Wolf, Miyuki Satou as Kuro, and Kenjiro Tsuda as Genichiro Ashina. The series is set to debut on Crunchyroll sometime next year.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
