byCallum Doyle
Published: Jul 18, 2026, 14:36
Viz Media/Inio Asano
Inio Asano, creator of Goodnight Punpun, has placed his current series Mujina Into the Deep on hiatus, revealing the pause is largely due to restrictions on generative AI within the manga industry.
Speaking on the Japanese talk show WEEKLY OCHIAI, Asano explained that his production process relies heavily on 3D modeling software like Blender and Unreal Engine.
He personally builds over 90% of the manga’s environments before writing any plot.
Asano’s unusual workflow
Asano compared his approach to building a video game like Grand Theft Auto.
He traces real-world locations such as Shimokitazawa to construct authentic city layouts before the story is written around them. That workflow shifted the series from a grounded story about a middle-aged man into a high-octane parkour and action manga.
Asano said generative AI could dramatically speed up the process, but publishers currently forbid professional artists from using it due to copyright concerns.
“It’s a strange situation,” he said. “You’re not allowed to use it precisely because you’re a professional.”
Rather than continue grinding through the 3D modeling manually, Asano chose to pause the series entirely, hoping publishers will lift the ban before its planned return in 2027.
He also shared his broader view that generative AI is well suited to creating viral, algorithm-friendly content, while human creators should instead focus on niche, resonant stories AI cannot authentically replicate.
The debate over AI in manga is far from settled. Earlier in 2026, an AI-generated manga became one of Japan’s best sellers, with one manga editor suggesting readers increasingly don’t care whether a title was made by a human or a machine.
