TikTok has become one of the most popular social media apps in recent years, with over 1 billion monthly active users. The app is known for its short form videos and the ability for users to create and share content using various effects and filters. One of the most popular filters on TikTok over the past year has been the anime filter, which transforms users’ faces into anime or cartoon-like characters.
The anime filter craze took off in early 2022 when TikTok introduced an effect powered by AI that could turn photos or videos into anime style drawings. As noted by this article, the filter quickly gained widespread popularity, with the #animefilter hashtag garnering over 6 billion views. Users, especially teens and young adults, loved being able to transform themselves and their friends into realistic looking anime characters. The filter allowed them to bridge the gap between real life and the anime worlds they enjoy watching.
What is the Anime Filter?
The Anime Filter, officially known as the “Anime Style” filter on TikTok, is an effect that stylizes videos into an animated Japanese anime aesthetic. As described on TikTok’s official channel, the filter gives videos a hand-drawn look reminiscent of popular anime movies and shows, with large expressive eyes, colorful hair, and visually simplified features.
When applied, the Anime Filter detects faces and bodies in the frame and transforms their appearance into an anime character model, with adjustable options like hair color, eye style, skin tone, and more. Users are able to transform themselves into anime protagonists straight out of shows like Dragon Ball Z, Tokyo Ghoul, and more.
The filter quickly gained popularity on TikTok as users embraced their inner otaku and performed anime-inspired dances, scenes, and lip-syncs with the filter’s effects. Anime fans especially enjoyed seeing themselves transformed into their favorite characters and genres of Japanese animation.
History of the Anime Filter
The anime filter was first introduced on TikTok in September 2020 as part of a promotion with Snapchat. On September 22, Snapchat released their anime filter to the public. That same day, #animefilter started trending on Twitter and TikTok, with users showing off the new filter.
The anime filter gives users an animated, cartoonish look reminiscent of anime and manga art styles. Its release coincided with a broader push by TikTok and Snapchat to partner together and cross-promote their services. Releasing a fun, viral filter like the anime filter helped drive engagement across both apps.
Popularity and Spread
The Anime filter quickly became one of the most popular filters on TikTok after its release. According to TikTok_Assist, the filter gives users “the ability to grow your accounts on various platforms” (https://www.quora.com/How-do-you-grow-on-TikTok-with-anime-edits-when-you-also-have-school).
The filter spread rapidly across TikTok in 2022. Videos using the filter frequently receive millions of views and likes. For example, one video by user @mixetc using the filter gained over 700,000 likes (https://www.tiktok.com/@mixetc/video/7243015370846506267).
Fans have enthusiastically embraced the filter and use it to create anime-inspired edits of themselves, characters, and scenes. The filter allows users to easily transform standard video into anime style, tapping into the popularity of anime on TikTok and beyond.
Notable Uses
The anime filter on TikTok has been used in many popular videos that have gone viral on the platform. Some notable examples include:
Charli D’Amelio, one of TikTok’s biggest stars with over 150 million followers, posted a video using the anime filter dancing to Doja Cat’s song “Say So.” The video received over 30 million likes.
Bella Poarch used the filter in her massively viral TikTok video where she lip syncs to “M to the B” by Millie B. That video became the most liked TikTok video ever with over 77 million likes as of January 2023.
The anime filter was used along with the “WAP” dance trend by creators like Addison Rae. Videos using the sexually suggestive dance combined with the cute anime filter contrast went viral.
Korean pop or K-pop stars like Lisa from Blackpink have also posted videos using the filter showcasing their dance moves to promote their music. These have received tens of millions of views and likes.
Many influencers like Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae frequently use the filter in sponsorship videos for brands like Hollister to appeal to Gen Z audiences on TikTok.
The anime filter allows creators to put their own spin on popular trends and memes like the “Mmm Watcha Say” trend based on a dramatic scene from the 2000s show The OC. The contrast of the goofy meme audio and anime filter adds humor.
Overall, the appeal of putting a cute anime twist on dances, songs, challenges, and other viral content has made the filter incredibly popular among top creators on TikTok as well as everyday users.
Criticism and Controversies
The anime filter on TikTok has faced some backlash and criticism. One concern that has been raised is around potential cultural appropriation. Some view the filter as trivializing anime style and aesthetics, which originate from Japanese culture and artforms. There’s a sense that the filter reduces anime to a superficial novelty or trend.
For example, Kenzo, a Japanese American TikToker, posted a video criticizing the filter, saying “The first picture pissed me off SO bad because I was like, this is my whole culture…and then you just get to press a button and look Asian.”
Others argue the filter can perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Asian faces and features. The exaggerated large eyes and small nose of the filter feed into the “anime” stereotype that all Asians have those facial characteristics. Some find the filter reinforces a flat, overly simplistic view of an entire culture.
Additionally, there are concerns around privacy and ethics when it comes to face-altering filters powered by artificial intelligence. Some criticize the collection of biometric data used to create detailed 3D models of people’s faces without proper consent. There are calls for more transparency and regulations around how images and data are used by tech companies.
While many enjoy the filter for entertainment, these criticisms highlight important downsides regarding cultural sensitivity and ethical AI usage that warrant further discussion.
Impact on Anime Culture
The popularity of the anime filter on TikTok has had a significant impact on anime culture and fandom. Many have noted connections between the filter and larger anime fandom, as the filter allows users to easily transform themselves into anime-style characters (https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/57898/1/dark-reality-of-surrendering-your-face-to-ai-tiktok-anime-filter-lensa-clearview). This has appealed to existing anime fans who enjoy cosplaying or imagining themselves as anime characters.
The filter has also led to an increase in interest in anime since going viral. As more people use the filter and share the anime-style images, anime itself gets more exposure. People who may not have been interested in anime before are now checking out anime shows and movies after encountering the popular filter. The easy accessibility of the filter on a mainstream app like TikTok introduces anime to a huge new audience. Anime has seen rising popularity in recent years, and the anime filter trend has certainly contributed by making anime-style visuals highly visible and sharable on a large scale.
Other Similar Filters
The anime filter on TikTok isn’t the only one that gives users a cartoon or anime-inspired look. Here are some other popular similar filters on the platform:
The Cartoon filter is very similar to the anime filter, giving a smoothed out, animated look. While not as popular as the anime filter, it has still been used widely in videos on TikTok.
TikTok also has several Disney-inspired cartoon filters like the Disney Princess filter, Mickey Mouse filter, and Pixar filter. These can give a more cutesy, family-friendly cartoon look compared to the anime filter.
There are also filters that specifically transform your face into popular anime characters like Naruto or L from Death Note. These allow users to cosplay and roleplay as their favorite characters.
While none seem to have reached the exact same viral status as the original anime filter, they provide different options for users who want to take on a stylized, animated persona in their videos.
How to Use the Anime Filter
Using the anime filter on TikTok is easy. Here is a step-by-step guide:
1. Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
2. Tap the ‘+’ icon to open the camera and start recording a new video.
3. Tap ‘Effects’ at the bottom of the screen and search for ‘anime’. Select the anime style filter you want to use.
4. Record your video normally with the anime filter applied.
5. Make any edits to the video if desired, like trimming the length.
6. Add any text, stickers, sounds or other creative elements.
7. Post and share your anime-style TikTok video!
Tips for using the anime filter:
– Get close to the camera for the most dramatic anime eyes effect.
– Use plenty of facial expressions and exaggerated motions.
– Try cosplaying or dressing up as an anime character.
– Add anime music, sound effects or visuals for more authenticity.
– Switch between anime filters for different looks.
Follow these steps and tips to make awesome anime-inspired videos on TikTok using the built-in filters.
Source: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/hiw-to-use-the-tiktok-anime-filter
Conclusion
In summary, the anime filter on TikTok allows users to easily transform themselves into anime characters in videos. It uses facial recognition and augmented reality technology to overlay animated filters and effects. First introduced in 2019, the filter exploded in popularity both on TikTok and other social platforms. It has enabled creative anime-inspired content, sparked discussions about cultural appropriation, and contributed to the rising mainstream interest in anime worldwide.
Looking ahead, the anime filter is likely to remain a staple effect on TikTok given anime’s continually growing fanbase. As the technology improves, we may see even more realistic and customized anime filters. However, concerns around inappropriate use of the filter will need to be addressed. Overall, it represents a innovative new way for animation and technology to intersect in pop culture. The anime filter has clearly left its mark as a transformative TikTok creation.
