DLE, the animation studio behind FROGMAN's work, is venturing into generative AI with a new brand dedicated to reimagining its back catalog. The studio announced the launch of "AI Kaeru Otoko Shōkai" ("AI Frogman Company"), a parallel initiative to its existing "Kaeru Otoko Shōkai" anime brand that will focus exclusively on AI-generated content based on older properties.

The new brand will initially spotlight characters from DLE's 2000s catalog, including "Kofun Gal no Coffy" and "Dokan-kun." These characters originally appeared in The Frogman Show and the Keihin Kazoku anthology series. DLE plans to release fresh AI-generated shorts every Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. JST (7:00 a.m. EDT), starting immediately across YouTube, TikTok, and X.

This move comes as DLE continues to expand under the direction of Ryō Ono, known professionally as FROGMAN. Ono took over as representative board director and president in June 2025, succeeding Hideo Hoshi. Under his leadership, DLE has been actively developing new content, including the recently premiered Eagle Talon XX anime on the franchise's YouTube channel in January.

The studio isn't entirely new to AI experimentation. In October 2025, DLE partnered with TSK San-in Central Television to debut "The World of Lafcadio Hearn's Kwaidan," an AI program blending traditional animation with generative technology. That project suggested DLE's interest in exploring AI's creative potential before launching this dedicated brand.

FROGMAN's multi-hyphenate approach to production—handling direction, writing, character design, sound recording, animation, editing, and voice acting on projects like Eagle Talon—has defined DLE's creative identity for years. The AI Kaeru Otoko Shōkai brand suggests the studio wants to maintain that creative vision while scaling production through emerging technology.

For fans of DLE's catalog, the weekly format offers a chance to see classic characters reimagined through AI, though the quality and artistic merit of generative anime remains a subject of ongoing discussion within the community. The initiative will provide an early test case for how established studios are incorporating AI into their production pipelines.