Fans were unsure of what to expect following Shueisha's announcement of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) features into their MangaPlus platform. However, the decision to use AI for typesetting translated manga on the site has disappointed many fans. The final product is perceived as significantly inferior to those typesetted by human beings.
Shueisha’s use of AI typesetting in MangaPlus sparks concern for dedicated and casual manga readers alike
:The debate among fans about Shueisha's cost-cutting decision and its implications for the final MangaPlus product is ongoing. These fans are expressing concerns about the potential future use of AI in a similar manner. One of the main concerns among devoted manga fans is that official volumes may also adopt AI typesetting, which ironically could diminish the quality of their purchases compared to what it used to be.
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The news about Shueisha and MangaPlus deciding to incorporate AI had already reached fans beforehand, but it was @RukasuMHA on X who brought it into the mainstream online. @RukasuMHA, well-known as a prominent source for leaked information on Kohei Horikoshi's My Hero Academia, has been primarily focused on providing concise summaries of each issue to the readers.
Typesetting involves placing translated words and phrases within the boundaries of a manga series' original speech bubble. This is a crucial element in translating and localizing manga, especially considering the stylistic differences between the Japanese and Latin alphabets. According to Rukasu's tweet, Rugby Rumble, written and illustrated by Daisuke Miyata, appears to be the first series to incorporate AI typesetting.
Rukasu’s tweet highlights that Rugby Rumble's lettering was done by an AI from Orange Inc. A quick search reveals that Orange Inc. primarily focuses on implementing AI tools for manga localization. However, this debut outing indicates that they still have a long way to go.
Fans have pointed out two major issues. Firstly, the font used for Orange Inc.'s AI typesetting is seen as jarring in comparison to the traditional font choices for localized manga. Secondly, in some speech bubbles, the text actually goes beyond the boundaries of the original speech bubble. Although these may appear as minor details, they can be unsettling for both casual and dedicated manga readers who are accustomed to a specific look in their localized manga.
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