DQN Anime: Where WWII Meets Cyberpunk

2024 founded Morphic, a platform that enables unique storytelling through dynamic cinematic works, is gaining popularity for its much-awaited AI anime series DQN. A hit stemming from collaboration between Morphic and Kushagra Kushwaha, known for his art and brainchild ‘Studio 4861’, DQN anime is receiving attention for its representation of Indian history in a never imagined backdrop of cyberpunk. The creation offers a futuristic conceptualisation of WWII—picture Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, but in a technologically oppressive society!

DQN anime artwork by Kushagra Kushwaha

With notable contributions in the creative market, his previous projects like JoJo’s Stone Ocean, Vinland Saga, and Lycoris Recoil are accessible on Netflix. Igniting a wide range of emotions from viewers, their engagement in DQN expressed interest as well as concerns. With most fans looking forward to this one-of-a-kind AI anime series, some questioned the need to alter eventful historical elements to fit into the reimagined setting. Regardless, the attention this creative endeavour is garnering remains undebatable!

Releasing in 2026, Kushagra Kushwaha’s spirit throughout the discussion seemed euphoric when reflecting on this passion project.

There are several animated works integrating the theme of World War II. However, with this reimagined cyberpunk backdrop and AI animated production, DQN claims its own space in the field. Where did the inspiration for this never-before initiative come from?

K.K.: DQN was born out of my attempt to process two overwhelming realities at once. The echoes of history and the turbulence of our present world. I was deeply intrigued by the historical relationship between India and Japan, and in my search for stories rooted in Japan, I kept finding fragments of forgotten narratives, unspoken connections, and alternate possibilities. Those threads became the foundation.

At the same time, the world around us feels polarized, fractured, and full of shifting power dynamics. Conflicts and propaganda are no longer distant relics of the past; they’re the very stage we live on. As a creator, I have always been drawn to realistic-world anime and cyberpunk-based themes because they don’t shy away from reflecting the world as it is, while also speculating on what it could become. It felt natural to bring these strands together: history, current affairs, and my own Indo-Japanese cultural influence into a narrative that’s both a reflection and a warning.

What makes DQN “never-before” isn’t a claim I started with; it’s the result of connecting all these elements into a single world. A cyberpunk reimagining of wartime and postwar energies, filtered through today’s fractured realities, powered by new tools of creation, that’s the space where DQN found its form.

What’s the story behind the title selection?

K.K.: The title DQN carries multiple layers. In Japanese slang, “DQN” refers to people considered reckless, disruptive, or out of place, misfits society doesn’t understand. That irony appealed to me deeply, because my characters are exactly that: the ones dismissed as outsiders, yet holding the fragments of something capable of shaking entire systems.

But there’s more. DQN is also an onomatopoeic sound in Japanese: 'dokkyun', the sharp crack of a gunshot, like 'dishkiyaoon' in India. It instantly evokes urgency, conflict, and revolution. That auditory violence aligned perfectly with the tone of the story.

Even the logo ▶️⏺️⏸️ has its own philosophy. It’s drawn from the “tricycle of life,” inspired by the three poisons of the Brahmachakra in Tibetan thought. Play represents initiation, Record is the happening, Pause is the conclusion. It mirrors Aristotle’s trifecta of storytelling, and echoes the sacred “three” found in religions and philosophies across the world. For me, it symbolizes not just narrative rhythm but also the cycle of rebellion, resistance, and rebirth. DQN as a title is cryptic yet explosive, structured yet raw, exactly the paradox I wanted to capture.

DQN anime Youtube Trailer | Official Trailer

AI integration is often generalised as an over-simplified process by the masses, leading to dismissal of authentically thought-provoking AI creations too. How does your contribution oppose this generalisation and what were some of the most nerve-wrecking challenges that confronted you while developing this work?

K.K.: The truth is, AI is not a shortcut, it’s a battlefield. People imagine it as a button you press to get instant results. But AI, in reality, is like electricity; raw potential that needs wiring, regulation, and vision. The technology itself isn’t the issue; the way people choose to use it determines whether it elevates or diminishes creativity.

I’ve spent eight years working in hand-drawn animation, and there came a point where I felt the need to push my own boundaries as a creator. For me, AI is not a replacement but a tool, one that artists can bend to their own imagination, much like a brush, a lens, or an instrument.

This is where I must give immense credit to the Morphic team and their product. Special thanks to Jaynti Kanani, the founder, who has supported me creatively at every step and provided the right technological backbone to make imagination possible. Advancing capabilities of AI and platforms like Morphic enable much smaller and newer animation studios to bring stories to life that otherwise require much larger budgets. This opens up possibilities for everyone who dreamed of putting their stories out in front of the world. Without that ecosystem of trust and innovation, DQN could not exist in its present form.

The most nerve-wrecking challenges were not technical but social. Fighting the stigma that “AI anime” equals “cheap anime” has been the real uphill battle. Our contribution opposes that by proving that AI, when integrated responsibly and artistically, can amplify storytelling, not flatten it. DQN stands as a living example of that philosophy.

From the viewpoint of a creator, other than ownership and means of generating the project, what was different about this journey when compared to your previous projects?

K.K.: Ownership changes everything, but more than that, it’s the responsibility. Being at the helm means you’re not just creating a story; you’re steering a vision. It’s not easy to lead a project that touches on provocative and sensitive themes, and then present it to the world under your own name.

As a foreigner trying to carve space in the Japanese anime market, every step is a challenge. Yet it’s also a privilege to bring together a whole world under one umbrella, to weave narratives that demand people see every side of a character, to stand at the intersection of cultures while building something original. That’s both consuming and electrifying.

On another level, we’ve positioned ourselves as torchbearers of new technology in anime production. That means willingly putting ourselves under public scrutiny, where every creative decision is judged. It’s enthralling in the long run, but in the moment, it demands everything.

AI has reduced time to output, but consistency and quality remain the hardest parts. Integrating AI results into established production pipelines without breaking the soul of anime, that’s been the greatest test of discipline. This journey, more than any before, has been about balancing vision with execution, and daring to believe it’s possible.

Anime India, India’s largest anime convention, was observed at Nesco, Mumbai just about 2 weeks back. Famous creators including Tetsuro Araki, director of Death Note and Attack on Titan, had graced the event. This prompts to India’s interest in animation that’s specifically influenced from Japanese style. With the launch of this homegrown creator’s series, what effect does DQN desire to create in relevance to anime viewership in the Indian demographic?

K.K.: When I saw the atmosphere at Anime India, it was undeniable; Indian audiences are not passive fans and consumers. They’re hungry for something that speaks to them, not just in borrowed aesthetics, but in stories that reflect their codes, histories, and diaspora. DQN is meant to answer that hunger with a story that says: this is ours too.

But our vision goes beyond a single series. We wish for DQN to grow into a global brand, spearheading a wave where Indians become the next generation of storytellers in anime. The future of India looks brighter every day, with more artists stepping forward to learn the craft of animation. Within the next decade, I believe we’ll see Indian studios pioneering their own IPs, art styles, and narratives, works that carry the weight of their own heritage.

DQN’s role is to be one of the flagship IPs in that movement: an Indian-inspired narrative built with conviction, carrying the torch of anime forward, and bridging the worlds of Japan and India. It’s a bridge, but also a spark, one that I hope ignites a much larger fire of creativity.

"Indian audiences are not passive fans and consumers. They’re hungry for something that speaks to them, not just in borrowed aesthetics, but in stories that reflect their codes, histories, and diaspora. DQN is meant to answer that hunger with a story that says: this is ours too."

DQN anime Youtube Trailer | Official Trailer 2

A message for the fans and viewers awaiting DQN?

K.K.: DQN is, above all, an honest attempt. As a creator, I wanted to build something original yet compelling, a story that doesn’t copy, but creates. We’ve already come far in building a world that has never been witnessed before, and we will continue to thrive in doing so.

What you’ve seen so far is just the surface. Behind the curtain, there are layers of the DQN world waiting to unfold, with new developments constantly under wraps. DQN is not just another anime;, it’s a force in the making. A force that I believe will surprise, challenge, and blow people’s minds, not only through its aesthetics but through the depth of the story it dares to tell.

To the fans: thank you for standing with us. Your energy is the bloodline of this project. Keep watching, keep questioning, and keep pushing us. That is how DQN will not just survive, but grow into a movement.

Follow Studio 4861 and Morphic for updates on DQN releasing in 2026.