Yuriten Cancels 10th Anniversary Event Over AI-Generated Art
Organizers scrapped the Ikebukuro kickoff after yuri manga artists criticized AI-generated visuals; Lilium has apologized.
Yuriten organizers have canceled the "Yuriten 10th Anniversary Restart Campaign in Ikebukuro" event, which had been scheduled for October 17-18 in Tokyo. The cancellation followed criticism from yuri manga artists over the use of AI-generated imagery in the event's promotional materials, according to Anime News Network.
Lilium, the company behind the event, admitted that generative AI was used in an announcement visual, in event decorations, and in other promotional materials. The company deleted the event's initial announcement post on Sunday.
Manga creators Nio Nakatani, Yukiko, and Yayoi Osawa publicly criticized the AI use. Nakatani is the author of Bloom Into You, while Yukiko created Futaribeya: A Room for Two and Osawa created Hello, Melancholic!.
Lilium apologized and said it contracted another company to manage and promote the event. The company also pledged to review its vetting process and to enforce its no-generative-AI policy on outside contractors, and said it will not use generative AI in future exhibitions or promotional images.
Previous Yuriten Events
Yuriten launched with an exhibition at the Ikebukuro Marui department store in Tokyo on February 22-28, 2016. The 2017 Yuriten exhibition teased an upcoming anime of Hiromi Takashima's Kase-san and... manga. In 2018, organizers canceled an exhibition five days before its planned launch at Ikebukuro Marui and moved it to a new Tokyo venue later that year.
Quick answers
Why was the Yuriten 10th anniversary event canceled?
Organizers canceled the event after Lilium admitted generative AI was used in an announcement visual, event decorations, and other promotions, drawing public criticism from yuri manga artists.
Where and when was the Yuriten event scheduled to take place?
It was scheduled to run October 17-18 in Tokyo, as the "Yuriten 10th Anniversary Restart Campaign in Ikebukuro."
What did Lilium say it will do going forward?
Lilium apologized, deleted the initial announcement post, and pledged to review its vetting process and enforce its no-generative-AI policy on outside contractors, stating it will not use generative AI in future exhibitions or promotional images.