Cobra Kai’s Shocking AI Resurrection of Mr. Miyagi: How They Did It!

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Yesterday, Cobra Kai said its farewell after the unveiling of the remaining episodes in Season 6. This brings an end to a series that is often considered among the best legacy shows ever made. Starting as a production on YouTube Red, it eventually gained global recognition on Netflix. Throughout its run, the show consistently delivered on its promises and introduced us to both new and cherished characters. Among them was Mr. Miyagi, portrayed by Pat Morita, who appeared in Part 2 of Season 6 posthumously and again in Part 3. In the episode “Skeletons,” he teamed up with Ralph Macchio’s Daniel Larusso for one final fight together.

In an interview following the end of Cobra Kai Season 6, creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg discussed the use of deepfake technology to resurrect Miyagi on screen. They explained how they were able to create a nearly perfect replica by stating, “There’s no pre-existing footage in there.” The scenes featuring Miyagi were shot with actor Don [Lee], the fight sequences, and his entrance were all captured practically, meaning that the footage was obtained during live-action filming.

A VFX company specializes in deepfake technology and produces it under our guidance. We provide numerous suggestions such as, “Focus on Pat’s forehead here,” or, “Check out how Mr. Miyagi moves at night in The Karate Kid, notice the way the light and moon appear.” Our observations go as far as the subtle details like the shape of the head and the placement of the hair on it.

In simpler terms, we made 50 attempts, then hired an actor who sounds similar to Pat Morita and acted like him in our memory. Afterward, we utilized advanced AI technology that draws from original audio recordings of Pat Morita to make the voice as identical as possible. Ultimately, we’re not trying to replace Pat Morita but rather honor a cherished figure by coming as close as we can. The audience recognizes that it’s not actually him.

How Did Ralph Macchio React to Mr. Miyagi’s AI Recreation?

At present, the moment when they opted to employ AI for Miyagi’s resurrection is surrounded by debate in Hollywood, as some wonder if this move might result in job loss for others. However, their application of AI demonstrated that a multitude of professionals are required to accurately recreate a character – from VFX artists and the voice actor, to the stunt person who embodied the late Morita.

Regarding Macchio’s emotions about acting alongside his late mentor again, Hurwitz shared: “Ralph was thrilled at the prospect of him and Pat appearing on-screen together once more, thanks to the advancements in technology.

We greatly enjoyed the concept of Daniel requiring his last instruction from Miyagi. Eventually, Miyagi appears and they engage in a joint battle before Miyagi imparts some closing words of guidance that enable Daniel to progress forward.

It’s important to mention that the creators of Cobra Kai sought and received approval from the estate of Morita before bringing him back through AI, ensuring it wasn’t a clandestine move. The revival has sparked diverse reactions online, with some criticizing the series for this decision while others argue it deepened the emotional impact of an already poignant finale. Regardless of personal views, there’s no disputing that the conclusion of Cobra Kai, regardless of Miyagi’s presence, ranks among the best endings in TV history.

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2025-02-14 18:32