Japan’s PIZZA-LA operator Four Seeds has apologized for Dr.STONE collaboration advertisements that ran without the anime production committee’s prior approval. The company blamed an automatic AI video generation and delivery setting left enabled during setup. It has suspended all TikTok advertising and pledged to review checks on settings and content management.
Four Seeds, operator of Japan’s PIZZA-LA pizza chain, apologized on November 6 over advertising for a collaboration with Dr.STONE, the Japanese animated television series. Videos had run on TikTok without advance supervision or permission from the anime’s production committee. The company said an automatic AI advertising generation and delivery function had remained enabled when staff completed the advertising setup.[1], [2]
The collaboration ran from October 1 through November 1. In late October, social-media users began questioning TikTok advertisements showing the characters with poses and expressions different from the official campaign artwork. They asked whether AI had altered the drawings and whether permission had been obtained. Four Seeds said staff had not adequately recognized that the automatic function was active during setup.[1]
Four Seeds stopped the disputed videos and suspended all of its TikTok advertising. It also informed the production committee and apologized to it. The company pledged to reconsider how advertising settings are checked and how content is managed. It acknowledged shortcomings in its understanding and checking of the delivery system, while emphasizing its responsibility toward the creators and fans of the work.[1]
