RŌHKI: Independent Music Artists Introduce First AI-infused Hybrid Anime Series

Los Angeles, CA – Tokyo, JP, Sept. 9, 2024: 10:00 ET / — RŌHKI, the first scripted anime series to fully merge AI production efficiency with human-driven character development, storytelling, music composition and scripting from veteran comic book writers, premieres on today on YouTube and other leading online content platforms. The groundbreaking six-episode anime series serves as an important blueprint and proof of concept for independent artists and content creators to fully reclaim complete artistic control of their work and successfully adapt to a changing industry that has been recently plagued by staff reductions and budget cuts.

Developed by a team of multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated music artists which envision an unrestricted and immersive visual creative process, which enables artists around the world the ability to independently write, produce, direct and score scripted visual projects, free of major studio and TV-film industry monetary or artistic restraints. The core creators of RŌHKI remain anonymous, with the desired focus and emphasis on artists around the world discovering the inherent artistic benefits AI production enhancements offer independent artists and content creators.

The biggest role AI plays in the production of RŌHKI is in stylization, creating a seamless blend between 3D backgrounds, animated characters, and real-time mo-cap technology. The project utilizes MidJourney, Wonder Dynamics, ComfyUI, and other open-source AI tools to speed up production, while human animators, writers, musicians, and directors guide the creative process. AI gives the creators endless options, allowing them to evaluate visuals, sounds, and experiment freely, which would otherwise be too time consuming and cost prohibitive. Ultimately, AI is presenting another monumental evolution in the artistic process and its adoption serves as yet another tool in the limitless creative arsenal artists have drawn from over the centuries.

“The benefits of AI scalability in video production are immense but go far beyond time efficiency. At the onset, we were primarily musicians, we had little experience in the mechanics and technicality involved in bringing our creative vision to the screen. By infusing AI to manage the mundane and assembly process, we were able to dedicate our time to the creation of stories, characters, music, and tone of the project said IO & Hachi of RŌHKI. “For RŌHKI, AI is key in enhancing visuals, motion, and production speed, but the human touch remains central to the project. Each voiceover, background, and character design were carefully crafted by the team, with AI amplifying our efforts rather than replacing them.”

Audiences and creators alike often dream or imagine what their own movie, show or animated comic book would be like. However, the reality of visual media production and its associated costs are often insurmountable obstacles and detrimental to the creative process. The debut of the RŌHKI anime series demonstrates that with the strategic selection and imaginative application of emerging AI technologies, creators are not limited or creatively confined by corporate directives, studio production restraints, or multi-million-dollar budgets to bring high-quality visual projects to life. Instead, AI is allowing small creative teams to produce work that technically and aesthetically rivals larger studios, removing traditional production barriers while preserving creative integrity.

About RŌHKI
As the first scripted AI Hybrid anime series, the RŌHKI universe is the brainchild of award-winning, Grammy-nominated artists and built on original characters, storytelling, and music/scoring. A multinational artist collaboration, RŌHKI production is based in both Japan and the United States.Collaborators include industry veterans, Maciej Kuciara (Marvel: Avengers, X-Men, Guardians of the Galaxy) & Paul Jenkins (DC Comics & Marvel Comics, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Incredible Hulk, Peter Parker: Spider-Man). With animation by IO, Hachi, Joseph Morales, Aidan Poole, Manuel Calero, and Marc Donahue, 3D/VFX by Lazaro and Akhil Macharla, mixing by Tom Norris and voice over duties performed by actor/producer Ko Mori.

Watch the first episode of RŌHKI, September 9, 2024, on YouTube and other online content platforms: RŌHKI – Episode 1