Japan accelerates video generation with new series of anime generation models.

# Japan Releases First Free AI Model for Anime Video Generation Source: [https://www.cbr.com/animegen-ai-video-generation-model-japan-official-release/](https://www.cbr.com/animegen-ai-video-generation-model-japan-official-release/) ## The Future of Anime Is Officially Here – And It's Free Image via Wit Studio [](https://www.cbr.com/author/ami-nazru/) PublishedJul 17, 2026, 1:05 PM EDT Ami Nazru is an anime journalist with over three years of experience reporting on the anime and manga industry\. She works as an editor at Animehunch and joined CBR as a contributor in 2025\. Ami has a Master's degree in English language & Literature\. When she’s not working, Ami is always on the lookout for a new horror movie to watch\. Sign in to yourCBRaccountJapan has released a new official AI model for video generation, potentially confirming what the future of[anime](https://www.cbr.com/tag/anime/)production may be like\. Per[PR Times](https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000026.000084222.html), Artificial Intelligence company AIdea Labs has released a new AI model named AnimeGen that is specifically designed to generate anime\-style video content\. This marks the first time that a Japanese company has released an official AI model focusing specifically on anime video creation\. AIdea Labs’ development team confirmed it has released two separate models under AnimeGen \-\- one that generates videos from text prompts and another that produces video directly from existing images\. Users can download both models for free and utilize the tool for commercial projects\. No copyright infringement issues were found during the beta\-testing of the model, according to the development team\. ## Japan's First Anime Video AI Model Is Free for Commercial Use Image via KaKa Technology Studio AIdea Labs has been actively developing AnimeGen since early 2024, utilizing Alibaba’s Wan 2\.2 video generation model as a base\. The project received support through the Generative AI Accelerator Challenge \(GENIAC\) \-\- an initiative backed by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry \(METI\) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization \(NEDO\)\. According to the development team, AnimeGen has the potential to be[integrated into several stages of the animation workflow](https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-producer-anime-ai-industry-save/), including generating in\-between frames, drafting storyboards, testing background layouts and compositions, and even prototyping visual expressions\. Examples of clips generated using AnimeGen can be viewed below\. The first video was generated simply by entering the text "A girl walking through a row of cherry blossom trees\." Meanwhile, the second and third videos were generated from already\-existing images\. The third video is an example of frame interpolation, which was achieved by adding the first and the last images in a sequence, with the model filling the rest in between\. ## Developers Say AnimeGen Is Still Not a Perfect Product Image via MAPPA Despite its capabilities, AnimeGen is far from a completed version, as it struggles to generate a stable animated sequence based on the reference images provided\. "Of course, it is not possible to automate everything at the present time\. However, we believe it can serve as a tool to support the trial\-and\-error process of the people involved in production and reduce their workload\. AnimeGen was developed as a first step to confirm that potential," the team said in its blog, adding that there was room for improvement in generating videos exactly as intended\. Because of these limitations, the company is seeking input from creators involved in the production of anime, illustrations, manga, games and videos to discover a truly usable form of the tool\. The team stated it welcomes various forms of cooperation, including feedback on generation results, sharing failure cases, and exploring methods for utilizing the tool within actual production workflows\. Anime studios have already dabbled with AI tools to overcome personnel shortage and other production crunches\.*Twins HinaHima*is by far the most prominent example of this case\. The anime was produced by Frontier Works and KaKa Creation, utilizing artificial intelligence for over 95% of its animation cuts\. Furthermore, studios like[Toei Animation have invested heavily in AI tools](https://www.cbr.com/toei-animation-ai-development-invest/)for workflow optimization, while[Sony has also incorporated AI](https://www.cbr.com/sony-anime-video-games-ai-strengthen/)in several aspects of its anime and game production\. This latest update confirms that artificial intelligence is here to stay in the production process, and that the industry is edging closer to a future where AI\-generated anime series might be the norm\.