Qzil.la, the studio producing the recently announced anime Sekiro: No Defeat, has addressed fan concerns that the upcoming series might utilize generative AI, confirming this will not happen.

In a statement shared on Twitter/X in Japanese and provided to IGN in English through a PR release, Qzil.la confirms that the Sekiro anime will be entirely hand-drawn.

『SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT』　制作手法についてのご案内 pic.twitter.com/yIwzzf9WXl

— SEKIRO: NO DEFEAT｜アニメ公式 (@sekiro_nd_anime) August 22, 2025

"We are thrilled to bring Sekiro: No Defeat exclusively to Crunchyroll in 2026," the English statement reads. "This full adaptation is a completely hand-drawn 2D animation created by the skilled teams at Qzil.la, ARCH, and Kadokawa. We confirm that no AI is involved in the anime's creation or production. Fans can expect the same artistry and precision that defined 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 adaptation of FromSoftware's game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The anime is a collaborative effort between Qzil.la, Kadokawa, and ARCH, and will stream on Crunchyroll in 2026.

Worries about generative AI emerged shortly after the anime's announcement, as social media users highlighted a statement on Qzil.la's website indicating the company uses AI. Translated via Google, the statement says, "We are actively developing technology to maximize the value generated per second by everyone in anime production. We challenge traditional methods, partner with technically skilled companies, and use cutting-edge tools like AI to advance production processes and creative expression, driving digital disruption in the anime industry."

These concerns were amplified by Crunchyroll's recent controversy involving ChatGPT-generated subtitles for a new series. In 2024, CEO Rahul Purini expressed interest in such technology, but by April this year, he told Forbes the company was "not considering AI in the creative process." Crunchyroll later attributed the AI subtitle issue to a third-party vendor, pledging to investigate and resolve the problem.

Sekiro: No Defeat is directed by Kenichi Kutsuna and written by Takuya Satou. Daisuke Namikawa voices Wolf, Miyuki Satou plays Kuro, and Kenjiro Tsuda portrays Genichiro Ashina. The series will debut on Crunchyroll sometime next year.