Renowned manga artist Inio Asano, the mind behind works like Goodnight Punpun and Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, recently took part in an episode of WEEKLY OCHIAI. The talk show, hosted by media artist Yoichi Ochiai, featured Asano discussing his creative process. Clips from the conversation were shared on YouTube, with the complete interview available through the News Picks platform. During the chat, Asano delved into his use of the “Unreal Engine” for manga creation, explained the reasons for Mujina Into the Deep’s hiatus, and addressed the role of generative AI in the manga industry.
Asano revealed that Mujina Into the Deep evolved into an action-oriented series due to his desire to experiment with 3D environments. “At first, it was meant to be a straightforward story about a disillusioned middle-aged man in a shopping district,” he explained. “But once I built the town in 3D, I realized I could craft a manga that better suited this format—and it naturally became an action series.”
Fans of Asano on X may already know that over 90% of the backgrounds in Mujina Into the Deep were created by the artist himself using Unreal Engine and Blender. He opts for paid assets when feasible but also creates his own models as needed.
When asked about using AI to streamline the modeling and placement of assets in such a large open world, Asano noted, “It’s definitely possible, but there’s a significant challenge in determining how much AI can be utilized.”
“Currently, publishers aren’t in a position to openly endorse AI use,” Asano remarked. “It’s an odd situation—you’re prohibited from using it precisely because you’re a professional.” He clarified that while several factors contributed to Mujina Into the Deep’s hiatus until 2027, the manga industry’s stance on AI was one of them.
“In today’s climate, mangaka aren’t permitted to use AI. Yet, AI actually elevates quality tremendously. So wouldn’t it be better to not create the manga now? Perhaps they’ll lift the ban on AI next year, making it wiser to start drawing afterward. I’m essentially on hold for now,” Asano stated. While he didn’t specify his plans for AI usage, he suggested that it could greatly accelerate the modeling process.
On a related note, Asano mentioned that though he doesn’t draw inspiration from other media, he is a passionate gamer. All his work following Dededede, including Mujina Into the Deep, draws heavily from the GTA franchise. He explained that he develops his stories by first constructing an “open world” for them.