Overview

‍Ossa Films, an independent production company focused on investigative storytelling, partnered with AKOOL to use AI-powered Face Swap technology in their documentary JOHATSU – INTO THIN AIR. The film explores the lives of people in Japan who have chosen to disappear voluntarily — a phenomenon known as "johatsu." To protect the anonymity of participants while preserving the emotional integrity of their stories, Ossa Film used Akool’s Face Swap to replace interviewees’ faces with realistic digital stand-ins. The film premiered at the Osaka Asian Film Festival to critical acclaim.

Challenge

‍Ossa Films needed a way to tell deeply personal stories without putting vulnerable subjects at risk. Traditional identity protection methods like blurring faces or altering voices often strip away the emotional impact of a documentary. The team faced several creative and ethical challenges:

• Maintain the authenticity of facial expressions and emotional nuance
• Protect subjects' privacy while preserving viewer connection
• Avoid distracting visual filters or low-quality face obfuscation
• Seamlessly integrate the solution into the post-production workflow

Solution

‍Ossa Films turned to AKOOL’s Face Swap technology to deliver a seamless, ethical solution:

• Replace subjects’ faces with AI-generated versions while retaining natural facial movements
• Preserve the realism and emotional depth of interviews without compromising safety
• Integrate Akool's tools into post-production to maintain visual consistency across scenes
• Ensure high-quality, cinematic output suitable for film festival presentation

Results

• The film was successfully completed with all participants’ identities protected
• JOHATSU – INTO THIN AIR premiered at the Osaka Asian Film Festival and received praise for its innovative and ethical use of AI
• Audience and critics highlighted the documentary’s emotional power and seamless visuals
• Demonstrated how AI can support sensitive storytelling without sacrificing quality or privacy

Takeaway

‍The collaboration between Ossa Film and AKOOL highlights a new standard for ethical storytelling in documentary filmmaking. By using AI face-swapping technology, filmmakers can protect vulnerable subjects while maintaining emotional impact. The success of JOHATSU – INTO THIN AIR shows how Akool empowers creators to tackle complex, sensitive narratives with both integrity and innovation.