Reiji Miyajima, the creator of the Rent A Girlfriend manga series, made waves by revealing his foray into artificial intelligence (AI) on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Using his own artwork as a foundation, Miyajima trained an AI model to replicate his distinctive style, resulting in an illustration of the series’ female lead, Chizuru Ichinose.
Miyajima, who shares insights and updates through his social media account @Miyajimareiji, expressed a newfound interest in AI technology. He showcased the AI-generated illustration of Ichinose and eagerly awaited feedback from fans.
While the AI-generated image bore a resemblance to Ichinose Chizuru, some fans felt it lacked the authenticity and originality present in Miyajima’s hand-drawn artworks.
Chirzuru (Credits: Reiji Miyajima)
Fan reactions to the AI-generated image varied. Many expressed disappointment, viewing the use of AI in art creation with disdain, as it seemingly undermines the dedication and effort artists put into their craft. Concerns were raised about the potential impact on future content of the manga series.
There was speculation among fans about Miyajima’s motives behind training an AI model to replicate his art style. Some feared that AI integration into the manga creation process could become commonplace, potentially altering the series’ artistic direction.
最近AIに興味持ち始めたので、僕の絵だけ学習させて水原のイラストを作ってみました！可愛い！ pic.twitter.com/WOAWi98q4B — 宮島礼吏 Reiji Miyajima (@Miyajimareiji) March 26, 2024
One fan highlighted the ethical complexities surrounding AI art, noting that training such models typically involves data from a wide range of copyrighted material, not just the artist’s own work.
In Japan, where no laws specifically regulate AI-generated artworks, opinions on the matter varied.
Chizuru (Credits: Reiji Miyajima)
While some saw Miyajima’s use of AI as ethical and a means to reduce workload, others found it disheartening, uncertain about distinguishing between hand-drawn and AI-generated content.
Additionally, there was a cultural divide in perception, with some Japanese fans perplexed by Western fans’ aversion to AI use, believing it could actually benefit creators by alleviating stress and prolonging their manga production careers.
In the manga industry, popularity can be quite fickle. Some series rise to fame quickly only to fade away within months, while others gradually gain momentum, reaching their peak in their final story arcs.
However, for certain manga, their popularity is unexpectedly interrupted by prolonged hiatuses that can last for years. And now, it appears that Shueisha is gearing up to revive one such beloved series with the return of Terra Formars.
Yes, you heard correctly. It’s been nearly six years since Terra Formars went on an indefinite hiatus. But now, it seems this sci-fi sensation is poised for a comeback, with creator Yu Sasuga leading the charge.
“Terra Formars” Special Promo Video to celebrate the comeback next week after almost 5 years of hiatus! The manga series by Tachibana Kenichi & Sasuga Yuu will resume in Weekly Young Jump issue 18/2024 our April 4! pic.twitter.com/WKmitwodPd — Manga Mogura RE (Manga & Anime News) (@MangaMoguraRE) March 27, 2024
According to Shueisha’s announcement, Weekly Young Jump will resume serialization of Terra Formars on April 4th. This resurgence comes after the manga went on hiatus years ago due to Sasuga’s health issues. The last chapter was published in December 2018, marking a considerable gap since fans last delved into the series.
JUST IN: “Terra Formars” manga is coming back from its hiatus after almost 5 and half years! The manga went on an indefinite hiatus in December 2018 due to the author Yu Sasuga’s health. The new chapter will be released in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump on April 4. pic.twitter.com/K8uw0ut8Ed — Yeager news (@Yeager_tv) March 27, 2024
About Terra Formars
For those unfamiliar with Terra Formars, the story kicked off in January 2011, plunging readers into a gripping sci-fi narrative set amidst the vast expanse of space. Humanity’s ambitious endeavor to colonize Mars takes a grim turn when a manned mission to the Red Planet ends in tragedy at the hands of colossal humanoid roaches known as Terraformars.
In a bid to reclaim Mars and defeat this formidable foe, select soldiers undergo genetic enhancements, escalating the conflict between man and insect.
For readers, the manga is available in English through Viz Media. Here’s a brief sneak peek into its premise:
“After the failure of humanity’s initial manned mission to Mars, a second expedition is dispatched to eradicate the cockroaches responsible for altering the Martian environment.
<img loading=“lazy” src=“https://otakukart.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Terra-Formars-dd.jpg" onerror=“this.onerror=null;this.src=‘https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhe7F7TRXHtjiKvHb5vS7DmnxvpHiDyoYyYvm1nHB3Qp2_w3BnM6A2eq4v7FYxCC9bfZt3a9vIMtAYEKUiaDQbHMg-ViyGmRIj39MLp0bGFfgfYw1Dc9q_H-T0wiTm3l0Uq42dETrN9eC8aGJ9_IORZsxST1AcLR7np1koOfcc7tnHa4S8Mwz_xD9d0=s16000';" alt=“Popular Shueisha Manga “Terra Formars” Finally Resumes After 5 Years Haitus - 3”>
Terra Formars (Credits: Tachibana Kenichi & Sasuga Yuu)
However, upon arrival, the explorers are met with a terrifying revelation: the insects have mutated into giant, aggressive humanoids with a singular goal – to exterminate humanity! Armed with enhancements from the harrowing ‘Bugs Procedure,’ this intrepid crew must confront the chilling reality of facing enemies that transcend mere bugs…”
With its riveting storyline and long-awaited return, Terra Formars promises to reignite the excitement and grab readers once more.
