‘Do It in Anime, Make It PG-13’: Twilight Saga Studio Exec Says AI Can Turn Live-Action Into Anime in 3 Hours

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Lionsgate, the film company responsible for productions like “The Twilight Saga” and “Borderlands”, asserts they can transform any of their movies into anime within just three hours, all thanks to cutting-edge technology. This daring declaration is made approximately a year after Lionsgate invested in the AI firm Runway in September 2024.

A recently published article discusses Hollywood’s covert relationship with artificial intelligence (AI), mentioning several high-ranking executives who believe this contentious technology can boost creative movie-making by replacing creatives. One of these executives featured in the piece was Michael Burns, Lionsgate’s 66-year-old vice chairman, who signed a deal with Runway – an AI company that faced lawsuits from artists over copyright control in 2023. Burns suggested that AI could revitalize their films by tailoring them for a younger audience, like making them resemble anime.

Lionsgate Says AI Can Turn Live-Action Movies Into Anime but Has Yet to Do So

John Burns, speaking about Lionsgate’s substantial investment in Runway, stated that it represented “experimenting with the realm of possibility.” He is confident that Runway will enable Lionsgate to create high-budget TV shows and movies at a significantly reduced cost. As he explained, “We might not be able to produce it for $100 million, but we can certainly do it for $50 million thanks to AI technology.” In essence, Burns is advocating for an experimental approach, saying, “Let’s give it a try and see what works.”

One of the many ideas under consideration involves re-imagining and re-marketing Lionsgate’s extensive library. This could involve altering the tone, content rating, and format of a TV show or film to appeal to a different audience. In Burns’ words, “Now we can say, ‘Make it into an anime, make it PG-13.’ Within three hours, I’ll have the movie.

While Burns’ assertion seems optimistic, no verifiable details have emerged to support the notion that converting a two-hour live-action film into a three-hour anime is practical. Given the context, this idea appears to stem from an outdated technology fad involving AI to transform real-life individuals into — a technique that has sparked controversy due to its implications.

Despite Hollywood consistently pouring funds into AI startups, aiming to reduce expenses and replace human staff, these ambitious efforts haven’t yielded substantial results so far. Beyond the complex legal issues surrounding AI-generated content that might infringe on copyrighted materials, the movie industry is maintaining a clandestine romance with AI technology due to the general public’s unfavorable view of it.

In Japan, I’ve noticed a persistent effort towards integrating AI within the anime industry, yet these attempts have largely fallen short of expectations. During the spring season of 2025, these AI-driven productions failed to create a significant impact. However, animation studios persist in their pursuit, hopeful for even minor financial respite, despite facing opposition from both fans and animators.

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2025-06-07 00:54