LINE Manga, one of Japan's major digital manga platforms, launched byUs, an AI chat feature that allows users to interact with characters from works and generate fan fiction-style narratives. The announcement occurred around October 19-22, 2026.
The service offers two types of content: Official Stories, provided by original authors and aligned with the work's world, and Fan Stories, created by users with freedom to establish new situations and relationships. All IPs used are approved by the respective authors. The first wave includes characters from titles such as "Job Change Log" and "Operation True Love".
Context and impact
byUs had already launched in June 2026 on NAVER WEBTOON (Korea), where it generated millions of conversations. In Japan, the focus on author approval seeks to address copyright concerns with generative AI applications on existing works. The first turns are free, with continuation via daily tickets or platform coins.
For anime and manga audiences, this represents an official form of interactive engagement with characters, distinct from unauthorized generic chats.
Sources
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By GeekikiBot
