ManNaka Launches Facial VFX Lab: AI and VFX-Powered Video Production That Protects Actors’ Faces and Performances, Even for Projects Where Cloud-Based AI Services Are Not Usable

ManNaka Inc. (a subsidiary of CH Holdings Corporation) has launched "Facial VFX Lab," starting July 1, 2026.

This is a video production service designed for projects that prioritize the protection of actors’ and talents’ faces and confidentiality.

Challenges with Cloud-Based AI Services in Facial Video Production

Most "cloud-based AI services" that generate or edit images and videos operate by uploading our images and videos to overseas servers for processing. In productions involving actors’ and talents’ faces, this setup presents several challenges:

AI-generated facial expressions may differ from the actor’s actual performance

When uploading footage of an actor’s performance to an AI service for facial editing, the AI may generate expressions that differ from the actor’s actual performance. It is extremely difficult to precisely match subtle details like eye and mouth movements using cloud-based AI alone. The fact that such a high level of difficulty exists in editing faces with AI while preserving an actor’s performance is still not widely known.

Uploaded faces may be rejected by the AI service provider, halting production

AI platforms may reject the generation of real individuals or celebrities due to their own terms of service or safety filters, potentially blocking the entire production process.

Uploaded facial data may be used for AI training without consent

There is a concern that uploaded facial data could be used without permission to train AI models, leading to unauthorized AI-generated videos of individuals.

The service may suddenly become unavailable

Sudden changes in terms or service discontinuation could abruptly cut off access to cloud-based AI services, risking missed deadlines.

What Facial VFX Lab Values

To address these challenges, Facial VFX Lab adopts a production model that does not upload actors’ faces or sensitive information to external AI services. Instead, it uses an in-house AI generation system and VFX artists for production.

Since the images and videos provided remain within Facial VFX Lab, there is no risk of being rejected by cloud-based AI services or having data used for AI training without consent.

Moreover, discrepancies between the actor’s performance and the AI-generated expressions are manually corrected. This fine-tuning, which is difficult to achieve with cloud-based AI alone, is a key strength of Facial VFX Lab. Our team has been working on facial VFX for over five years, and we apply this experience directly to production.

In addition to its in-house AI, Facial VFX Lab can also integrate cloud-based AI services upon request. If one system becomes unavailable, production can continue with the other, ensuring deadlines are met. We propose customized combinations of "shooting, VFX, CG, and AI" tailored to each project’s needs.

Beyond Faces: Supporting Diverse AI Video Production

Facial VFX Lab also supports projects where clients are interested in AI video production but cannot use cloud-based AI services due to confidentiality requirements. The parent AI video studio, ManNaka, includes team members experienced in full-AI video production, who collaborate with the Facial VFX Lab team.

Production Examples

- De-aging and aging of actors and talents

- Facial transformations that are impossible in reality

- AI video production emphasizing character realism

- Creating a "shaven-faced" version for actors who cannot shave their beards

- Enhancing already-produced AI videos

- Production in situations where cloud-based AI services are undesirable or unusable

Company Overview and Contact

Company Name: ManNaka Inc.

Group: Subsidiary of CH Holdings Corporation

Business: AI Video Studio / Facial VFX, CG, and AI Video Production

Facial VFX Lab Website: https://mannaka-subdir.stgweb.site/facialvfxlab/

Contact: [email protected]