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AI Companions Emerge from Manga Worlds
24 Feb
Summary
- Genies partners with King Records to create AI companions from manga.
- Hypnosis Mic franchise is the first to get interactive AI characters.
- AI companions will preserve character personality and story integrity.
Genies, an AI avatar technology firm, has forged a strategic alliance with King Records, the anime and music arm of Japan's publishing giant Kodansha. This collaboration aims to convert King Records' manga intellectual property into interactive AI companions for fans.
The initial phase will focus on the "Hypnosis Mic - Division Rap Battle" franchise, reimagining its 21 core characters as 3D AI companions. Human creators will meticulously craft each character's model and expressions to uphold their original personalities and narrative integrity, with AI enhancing the interactive fan engagement.
This partnership signifies Genies' significant entry into the Japanese market, a region known for its strong fan-character attachments. The company's advanced technology can reportedly bring characters to life rapidly while preserving their distinct artistic styles.
The "Hypnosis Mic" franchise is also expanding internationally, with its interactive feature film having premiered in Japan in February 2025. This film, which allowed real-time audience plot influence, sold over a million tickets locally before its U.S. release on February 27, 2026.
