Manga artist Inio Asano, the mind behind Goodnight Punpun and Dead Dead Demon’s Dededede Destruction, recently sat down as a guest on WEEKLY OCHIAI, a talk show hosted by Japanese media artist Yoichi Ochiai. During the conversation, which was partially shared on YouTube (with the complete interview available through the News Picks platform), Asano discussed his use of the “Unreal Engine” technique in his manga creation process, explained why he placed Mujina Into the Deep on hold, and explored the role of generative AI in the manga industry.
Asano revealed that Mujina Into the Deep evolved into an action manga because he aimed to experiment with 3D-modeled environments freely. “At first, it was meant to be a straightforward story about a downtrodden middle-aged man in a shopping district. However, after creating the town in 3D, I realized I could craft a manga that would better suit this format—and it naturally transformed into an action series,” he explained.
Fans of Asano on X may already know that over 90% of the backgrounds in Mujina Into the Deep were crafted by the artist himself using Unreal Engine and Blender. While he occasionally uses paid assets, he also creates his own when necessary.
When asked if AI could assist in streamlining the modeling and placement of assets for 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 usage,” 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.
“Under the current circumstances, mangaka aren’t permitted to use AI. Yet, AI actually enhances quality tremendously. So wouldn’t it be better to postpone creating the manga? Perhaps the ban on AI might be lifted next year, making it wiser to start working afterward. I’m essentially on hold in that regard,” Asano stated. Although he didn’t specify his plans for AI usage, he mentioned that it could significantly expedite the modeling process.
As a side note, Asano shared that while he doesn’t draw inspiration from other media, he is deeply passionate about video games. Apparently, all his work following Dededede, including Mujina Into the Deep, draws heavily from the GTA franchise. He explained that he develops all his stories by first constructing an “open world” for them.