TikTok is a video-sharing social media platform that was launched in 2016 and quickly became popular among teenagers and young adults. One of the platform’s standout features is its wide array of creative filters and effects that users can apply to their videos. In recent years, anime-inspired filters have emerged as a hugely popular trend on TikTok, allowing users to transform themselves into animated characters with just a couple taps.
Anime refers to hand-drawn and computer animation originating from Japan. Anime art is known for its colorful graphics, dramatic expressions, and large, doe-like eyes. As anime and anime-inspired cartoons have increased in popularity globally, many TikTok users have embraced anime-themed filters that allow them to give themselves an animated makeover. These filters utilize advanced augmented reality technology to add animated makeup, hairstyles, eyes, and other cartoonish effects to people’s faces.
The anime aesthetic perfectly complements the playful, creative spirit of TikTok. Anime filters take the TikTok experience beyond simply recording videos to truly transforming and enhancing users’ appearances. As these filters continue gaining momentum on the platform, more users are joining in on the anime-inspired fun.
What is the Anime Filter?
The anime filter on TikTok uses artificial intelligence to transform users’ faces into an anime art style. It was released by TikTok in 2022 as part of their “AI filters” and quickly became hugely popular among users.
The filter detects facial features and stylizes them to give an animated look. Some of the key effects it adds include enlarging the eyes, smoothing the skin, changing hair color to bold hues, adjusting face and eye shape, and applying an anime-style background. The end result is that users are transformed into anime characters straight out of a manga or anime film.
As noted in this viral TikTok video, the filter is very fluid and stable, smoothly tracking head movements and facial expressions to maintain the anime look in real time. This believable animation helps transport users into the anime world.
History of the TikTok Anime Filter
The origins of the TikTok Anime filter are unclear, but it emerged sometime in 2021 and quickly gained popularity among TikTok users. According to Know Your Meme, the AI Manga Filter was added to TikTok at an unknown date, but started going viral in late 2021. TikTok users, especially cosplayers and anime fans, loved being able to transform themselves into anime characters with just a tap of the filter.
By early 2022, the Anime filter exploded in popularity, with the #animefilter hashtag garnering over 3 billion views on TikTok. As noted by Filmora, the filter uses a person’s unique facial features, skin tone, and hair color to generate an anime doppelganger. This personalized transformation is part of what drew so many TikTok users to try out and share the filter. Over the course of 2022, the Anime filter became one of the most popular effects on TikTok, though its exact origins remain a mystery.
Why People Love the Anime Filter
The anime filter has become incredibly popular on TikTok due to its ability to transform users into anime characters. This appeals to many users’ creativity and desire to alter their appearance in fun ways. As one TikTok user named Twigzyisdying stated, “New AI filter trend? 👀 #aifilter #aianimefilter #aifilterchallenge …” (source). The filter allows people to see themselves in the style of Japanese anime cartoons, with large expressive eyes, colorful hair, and smooth skin.
For anime fans, the filter provides a way to emulate the look of their favorite characters. It taps into the creativity and imagination of the anime fandom. Applying the filter is akin to transforming yourself into an anime protagonist. This allows TikTok users to explore their identity and preferences through the lens of anime aesthetic and tropes. Overall, the appeal stems from the filter’s ability to turn users into idealized, stylized versions of themselves.
Using the Anime Filter
Finding and using the anime filter on TikTok is easy. Here are the steps:
- Open the TikTok app on your mobile device.
- Tap on the camera icon at the bottom to open the camera.
- At the top right, tap on “Effects” next to the flash icon.
- In the search bar, type “anime” and tap search.
- You should see the anime filter appear as one of the first options. Tap on it to preview the effect.
- If you want to apply the filter, tap on the check mark at the bottom right. This will apply the anime filter to your camera.
- Record your video as normal with the anime filter applied.
- You can adjust the filter intensity by pinching and dragging your fingers on the screen.
Here are some screenshots showing how to find and use the anime filter:
Best Practices
To use the Anime filter most effectively, it’s important to pay attention to angles, lighting, backgrounds, and costumes. Here are some tips:
– Experiment with different angles when recording your video. A 3/4 angle often works well to showcase the Anime filter, rather than a straight head-on view. Play with tilting your chin up or down slightly.
– Ensure you have flattering lighting. The filter won’t conceal flaws as well as natural lighting. Position yourself near a window or use a ring light for a soft, even glow on your face.
– Choose appropriate backgrounds. Simple, clean backgrounds help the focus stay on the Anime filter’s effects. Busy or distracting backgrounds compete for attention.
– Consider costumes and props. Cosplay and accessorizing with anime-inspired items enhances the fantasy vibe. Cat ears, wigs, costumes, and contact lenses take it to the next level.
– Film multiple takes and watch the playback. Small adjustments to your positioning and performance can make a big difference in highlighting the appeal of the filter.
Taking the time to set up the shot thoughtfully pays off. With the right lighting, angles, and accents, the Anime filter can transform an ordinary video into a captivating, anime-inspired work of art.
Popular Trends
The Anime filter has sparked several popular trends on TikTok. One of the biggest is users transforming themselves into their favorite anime characters like Naruto, Goku from Dragon Ball Z, or Deku from My Hero Academia (Ai Anime Filter Trend). Fans use the filter to cosplay without wigs, costumes or makeup. The results can be impressively accurate!
Another trend is anime voiceovers. Users will record a video with the Anime filter enabled and then dub themselves with audio clips from popular anime shows. This takes cosplay to the next level by not just looking like an anime character, but sounding like one too! Some of the most popular voiceovers are from Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, and Attack on Titan (Anime filter trend).
Overall the Anime filter allows fans to easily immerse themselves in the worlds of their favorite shows. Transforming into a beloved character or doing a dramatic voiceover brings these anime fantasies to life. It’s an engaging new way for the anime community to connect and express their fandom.
Criticism
The Anime filter has received some criticism over privacy and data concerns. Some critics argue that by uploading your photo to use the filter, you are providing your biometric data like facial patterns to the company that created it (as cited in this article). There are worries that this data could be used for surveillance or facial recognition without proper consent. There are also concerns that the filter promotes an unrealistic beauty standard, as it tends to idealize facial features. However, many find the filter just a fun way to express creativity and enjoy anime culture.
Other Popular Anime Effects
The anime filter on TikTok has sparked a whole new wave of anime-inspired effects on the platform. Here are some other popular anime filters people love to use:
The Kawaii Anime Filter – This cutesy filter adds sparkling anime eyes, rosy cheeks, and brightly colored hair to give you a sweet, anime-inspired look. As described on this TikTok video, it’s a more toned-down effect compared to the viral anime filter.
Anime Eyes Filter – Want the dazzling anime eyes without the full portrait effect? This filter just adds the quintessential big, glistening anime eyes to your real face for a fun twist.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the anime filter on TikTok has become a hugely popular way for users to transform themselves into animated characters. It utilizes AR technology to add anime-style features like big eyes, colorful hair, and smooth skin. The filter has struck a chord, especially with younger audiences, as a way to embrace Kawaii culture and animate themselves. While some criticize it as an example of people trying to fit beauty ideals, most are just having harmless fun putting a stylized spin on their selfies. The anime look has inspired countless memes, trends, and videos on TikTok and beyond. As new effects come and go, the anime filter has remained a staple of the platform for its ability to turn anyone into an instant anime character.
In summary, the anime filter allows people to explore self-expression, creativity, and anime fandom through TikTok. It demonstrates the app’s foundations in AR technology and youth culture. While the saturated anime style isn’t for everyone, the filter’s popularity reveals a desire to inhabit fantasy worlds and become idealized versions of ourselves. The anime avatar trend will likely continue as people find new ways to animate themselves on TikTok and other platforms. The filter provides an accessible way to engage with animation, cosplay, and imagination.
