Best AI Anime Upscaler 2022

In this video, the host compares various AI anime upscaling tools, including Real-ESRGAN, ESRGAN Anime model, Topaz 2D model, and waifu2x. The comparison is based on three criteria: cleanness, artifact handling, and bokeh effect. Real-ESRGAN stands out for its pixel-perfect clarity and minimal artifacts, making it ideal for detailed scenes. ESRGAN Anime model is praised for its smoothness and handling of bokeh effects, while waifu2x is consistent but lacks upscale strength. Topaz 2D model is less aggressive in enhancement but still offers a good balance. The video also discusses the importance of model selection and provides a tutorial link for installing these AI tools using Docker. The host concludes by highlighting the potential for future quality improvements in AI upscaling technology.

Takeaways

• 📈 A new AI research for upscaling anime has emerged, prompting a comparison of the best AI anime upscaling tools available in 2022.
• 🆚 The comparison includes Real-ESRGAN, ESRGAN Anime model, Topaz 2D model, and Waifu2x, with each tool being evaluated on three criteria: cleanness, artifact amount, and bokeh effect handling.
• 🎨 For the cleanness criterion, the focus is on clean edges on geometric objects or lines, with Real-ESRGAN being the top performer due to its smoothness and clarity.
• 🔍 In terms of artifacts, Real-ESRGAN also leads due to its focus on pixel-perfect results and minimal weird artifacts, despite its tendency to generate some.
• 📊 Waifu2x ranks first in handling the bokeh effect, as it does not damage the bokeh effect and maintains consistency across different scenes.
• 🏃‍♂️ Real-ESRGAN is the slowest tool with a runtime of 0.15 fps, but it excels at upscaling detailed scenes and is ideal for anime with intricate details.
• 🏃‍♀️ Real-ESRGAN Anime model is slower than Real-ESRGAN but faster than ESRGAN, making it suitable for simpler animation styles and effective at handling bokeh effects.
• ⚡ Real-QGen is the fastest tool with a speed of 4.5 fps and provides a balanced performance between detailed and simple animation styles.
• 💵 Topaz is a paid tool that, while not free, offers a decent performance but is outperformed by Real-ESRGAN and Real-QGen in terms of upscaling strength.
• 🔗 The quality of AI upscaling tools can be significantly influenced by the models used, with a strong community contributing to the development of better models for ESRGAN.
• 🔧 An all-in-one tutorial is provided for installing these AI tools, utilizing Docker for the fastest setup.
• 🌐 The video is sponsored by Yours App, a self-care application offering a wide range of content from meditation to yoga, with a special focus on sleep and relaxation sounds.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is comparing different AI anime upscaling tools to determine the best one in 2022.

What are the three criteria used to evaluate the AI upscaling models?

The three criteria used to evaluate the AI upscaling models are cleanness, amount of artifacts, and bokeh effect handling.

Which AI model was found to be the cleanest in the comparison?

The 'ryoe's' model was found to be the cleanest in the comparison, as it provided the best upscaled smoothness around edges and text.

How does the Real-ESRGAN model perform in terms of artifacts?

The Real-ESRGAN model tends to produce overly saturated results and is prone to creating artifacts, especially in areas with text and intense upscaling.

What is the main advantage of the Waifu2x model in the context of upscaling?

The main advantage of the Waifu2x model is its consistency, as it does not damage the bokeh effect and maintains a consistent quality under all circumstances.

Which model is the fastest in terms of processing time?

The Real-QGen model is the fastest, with a processing time of 4.5 fps.

What is the recommended way to install all the AI upscaling tools mentioned in the video?

The recommended way to install all the AI upscaling tools is through an all-in-one tutorial that uses Docker, which is linked in the video description.

What is the purpose of the 'Yours App' mentioned in the video?

The 'Yours App' is an all-in-one self-care app that provides content ranging from meditation, breathing exercises, psychological advice, music for relaxation, yoga, and more.

How does the Real-ESRGAN model handle the bokeh effect?

The Real-ESRGAN model performs well in handling the bokeh effect, causing minimal damage to the newly formed benchmark and maintaining exceptional quality.

What is the significance of the different AI models for upscaling anime?

Different AI models are like tires for vehicles, designed for specific purposes. In the context of upscaling anime, they are tailored to handle various aspects of the upscaling process, such as cleanness, artifact reduction, and bokeh effect.

Why might the quality of AI upscaling tools fluctuate in the future?

The quality of AI upscaling tools may fluctuate due to ongoing research and development, improvements in algorithms, and the availability of better models that can enhance the AI's performance.

What does the video suggest for those who want to learn more about installing the AI upscaling tools?

The video suggests checking the description for a link to an all-in-one tutorial that allows for the installation of all the mentioned tools using Docker, which is currently the fastest way to run these AIs.

Outlines

00:00

📊 AI Anime Upscaling Tool Comparison

The video discusses a new AI research for upscaling anime and aims to determine the best AI tool for this purpose. The comparison includes Real-ESRGAN, Real-ESRGAN Anime model, Topaz 2D model, and YFU2X. The comparison is based on three criteria: cleanness, artifacts, and bokeh effect handling. The script explains that different AI models are like vehicles with specialized tires for different conditions, and in this case, some are specifically designed for upscaling anime. The video will rank each model based on the criteria after careful observation and comparison. The script also mentions that the results will be uploaded individually for better clarity, especially for mobile viewers.

05:01

🏆 Ranking and Recommendations for AI Upscaling

The video concludes with a ranking of the AI upscaling tools based on their performance in the criteria of cleanness, artifacts, and bokeh effect handling. Real-ESRGAN is noted for its excellent performance in upscaling detailed scenes and handling the bokeh effect, despite being slow. Real-ESRGAN Anime is recognized for its ability to handle simpler animation styles and its fast processing speed. Topaz and YFU2X are discussed, with YFU2X praised for its consistency. The video emphasizes the importance of models in enhancing AI performance and mentions the availability of models trained by the community. It concludes with a tutorial link for installing the AI tools and a promotion for the Yours App, a self-care application offering various wellness content.

Keywords

AI Anime Upscaler

An AI anime upscaler is an artificial intelligence-driven software tool specifically designed to enhance the resolution of anime visuals, such as opening sequences, without compromising the original artistic integrity. In the video, various AI upscalers are compared based on their performance in cleaning, reducing artifacts, and handling bokeh effects.

Real-ESRGAN

Real-ESRGAN is a type of AI model used for image and video upscaling. It stands for Enhanced Super-Resolution Generative Adversarial Networks with a real-world image focus. The video discusses the Real-ESRGAN model's performance in upscaling anime, highlighting its strengths in handling detailed scenes and its tendency to produce clean, artifact-free results.

Artifacts

Artifacts in the context of upscaling refer to unintended visual anomalies or distortions that appear in the upscaled image, often due to the AI's attempt to fill in missing details. The video evaluates how well each AI upscaler minimizes these artifacts, with a focus on maintaining the original image's quality.

Bokeh Effect

The bokeh effect is the aesthetic quality of the out-of-focus areas in a photograph or video, which can be a challenge for AI upscaling tools to replicate accurately. The video assesses how each AI upscaler handles the bokeh effect, noting that some may blur it excessively or fail to maintain its consistency.

Upscaling

Upscaling is the process of increasing the spatial resolution of an image or video, typically from a lower to a higher resolution. In the video, upscaling is the core process being evaluated, with a focus on how each AI model performs this task with anime content.

Anime Openings

Anime openings are the introductory sequences at the beginning of an anime episode, often featuring a combination of music and animation. They serve as a test case in the video for evaluating the upscaling capabilities of the AI models, as they often contain a mix of detailed animation and text.

Cowboy Bebop

Cowboy Bebop is a classic anime series known for its distinctive style and opening sequence. In the video, the Cowboy Bebop opening is used as a benchmark to test the AI upscalers' ability to handle text clarity, geometric lines, and the bokeh effect.

Processing Time

Processing time refers to the duration it takes for an AI upscaler to complete the upscaling of an image or video. The video compares the processing speeds of different AI models, noting that faster processing times can be advantageous but may come with trade-offs in quality.

Yours App

Yours App is a self-care application mentioned in the video that provides a variety of content aimed at improving mental and physical well-being, including meditation, music for relaxation, and yoga. It is highlighted as a sponsor of the video, showcasing the app's features and its relevance to the audience's self-care journey.

Docker

Docker is a platform that allows developers to develop, ship, and run applications in a virtualized environment called a container. In the context of the video, Docker is mentioned as a method for installing and running the various AI upscaling tools, simplifying the process for users.

Patreon

Patreon is a crowdfunding platform where creators can receive financial support from their audience or patrons. The video acknowledges Patreon supporters, indicating the importance of community funding for the creator's work and the production of the video content.

Highlights

A new AI research for upscaling anime has emerged, prompting a comparison of the best AI anime upscaling tools available in 2022.

The comparison includes Real-ESRGAN, ESRGAN Anime model, Topaz 2D model, and YFU2X, each designed for different AI upscaling purposes.

Different AI models are likened to vehicles with tires made for specific conditions, emphasizing their specialized nature for upscaling anime.

The evaluation is based on three criteria: cleanness, artifact amount, and bokeh effect handling.

For cleanness, the Cowboy Bebop opening is used as a test due to its geometric objects, lines, and background text.

Waifu 2X ranks fifth in cleanness due to its lack of clarity compared to other models.

Real-QGen is noted for its clean lines on the planes, ranking third in the cleanness category.

ESRGAN Anime model takes the top spot for cleanness, with its upscaled smoothness fitting the style of older anime like Cowboy Bebop.

In terms of artifacts, Waifu 2X and Topaz are disqualified for not making significant changes to the original.

Real-ESRGAN is third in artifacts due to its overly saturated results and tendency to create weird shapes or wobbly lines.

Ryokugen places second in artifacts, showing normalized colors and less intensive upscaling strength.

ESRGAN Anime model wins the artifact section for its pixel-perfect focus and minimal weird artifacts.

For bokeh effect handling, Waifu 2X is ranked first for its consistency and zero damage to the bokeh effect.

ESRGAN Anime model struggles with blurs, ranking it fifth in bokeh effect handling.

Kyugen ranks fourth, showing recovery in scenes with blurring despite initial issues.

Topaz ranks third, with minimal but acceptable differences in handling the bokeh effect.

Real-ESRGAN ranks second for its exceptional quality in handling the bokeh effect with realistic details.

ESRGAN Anime model is noted for its slow processing speed but excellent upscaling of detailed scenes and artworks.

Real-QGen is the fastest model, offering a middle ground between ESRGAN models and handling both detailed and simple animation styles well.

Topaz and Waifu 2X are considered less effective in upscaling strength but offer consistency and decent processing speed.

The importance of using good models for AI upscaling is emphasized, with a community dedicated to ESRGAN model training.

The video provides a link to an all-in-one tutorial for installing the discussed AI upscaling tools using Docker.

The video is sponsored by Yours App, an app focusing on self-care content including meditation, music, and yoga.