“Neon Genesis Evangelion“, one of the most iconic anime of the 90s, left an indelible mark not only on animation, but also on music. The series' opening theme has become one of the most recognized songs in anime history, both nationally and internationally. Now, the singer behind this iconic song has decided to take a firm stand against the use of artificial intelligence.

Through Yahoo Japan, it was reported that Yoko Takahashi, known for her performance of “A Cruel Angel's Thesis,” will not participate in the “First Concert” event (Sakura Hall, Shibuya) organized by the Ikebukuro Animation Philharmonic orchestra. The reason for the absence is due to the use of promotional material created by AI for the event. This decision not only highlights the growing presence of AI-generated art in the anime industry, but also the solidarity of many in the industry, including vocal and musical talents.

Yoko Takahashi has been announced to perform at the Ikebukuro Animation Philharmonic's “First Concert,” scheduled for July 10, 2024. Takahashi is known worldwide for “Zankoku na Tenshi no Teeze” (Thesis of the Cruel Angel), the legendary and moving opening theme for the original “Neon Genesis Evangelion” series. Both the anime and its opening theme remain huge hits, which has generated great anticipation for his appearance on the show.

However, Takahashi decided to pull out after discovering that the event's promotional material included an AI-generated image, a choice the artist felt was inappropriate given the celebration of anime as an artistic medium. Takahashi stated that he “cannot face [AI-generated art] as an artist” and that he wants to “value the feelings of all those who deeply love anime above all else.”

The Ikebukuro Animation Philharmonic Orchestra and Yoko Takahashi jointly announced the singer's absence. Many have since expressed their support for the decision, calling it a “brave decision” by Takahashi. The presence of AI-generated art in anime has raised growing concerns, especially regarding the artistic integrity of the medium. Some production companies are already implementing AI animation and this trend is likely to continue to grow, even replacing some elements of the traditional animation process.

In response to the negative fan reaction following Takahashi's announcement, the show's official website issued an official statement. Part of the statement read: “While we consider ourselves an anime-loving orchestra, we are ashamed that we were not sufficiently aware of the recent issues surrounding generative AI. We also realize that we did not take into consideration the work and feelings of all those who love anime and its creative aspects, and all members of the executive committee deeply regret this. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused to many people due to our incompetence. We have temporarily replaced the images used in the brochure and on the website with works commissioned from an illustrator. We will continue to prepare the concert using these new visuals.».

Even anime fans who weren't around when "Neon Genesis Evangelion" originally aired are aware of its legacy. The series revolutionized the mecha genre with its psychological narrative, launching a wave of dark deconstructions into the medium. Evangelion's music is especially appreciated, be it the opening theme, the ending theme ("Fly Me to the Moon") or the equally angelic "Soul's Refrain", the theme of the film "The End of Evangelion", also performed by Yoko Takahashi. Although the original series concluded in the 1990s, it has maintained a significant presence in the years since. The most recent iteration was the “Rebuild of Evangelion” film series, which acts as a semi-reboot, culminating with “Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time” in 2021.

Source: Yahoo! News Japan