What is it about?
This research explores how a globally popular medium like Japanese animation (anime) has portrayed and conceptualized artificial intelligence (AI) throughout its history. It studies a series of early shows (Astroboy, Ghost in the Shell) alongside more recent ones (Gene of AI, Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song, and Pluto) to establish a balance between utopian and catastrophic visions of AI development.
Featured Image
Photo by Alex Robertson on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The study of Japanese animation (anime) has been underrepresented in academic literature concerning the imaginaries of artificial intelligence, despite the medium's popularity and long history of engaging with AI-related science fiction. This article bridges this gap.
Perspectives
I really do think that anime is an underrated medium in the study of science fiction. It has a rich catalogue from which to chose from and offers unique perspectives on subjects as complex as free will, life and death, or humanity as a concept. This is what I try to highlight with this article in the hopes for more studies on the subject.
Victor Marquet-Saget
Universidad de Sevilla
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: AI in Anime: Technological Utopias and the Frankenstein Complex, Asiascape Digital Asia, September 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/22142312-bja10068.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
