The second half of Cobra Kai‘s sixth season brought plenty of emotions, but not all of them landed well with fans. The idea of bringing Mr. Miyagi back for a cameo seemed like a great move — not just for the story, but for the fans too. However, since the actor has passed away, they had to turn to technology to make it happen.
The AI, however, didn’t hit the mark. The fake image didn’t sit well with fans, who took to social media to share their disappointment. While it seems the character’s return was carefully discussed and planned to honor the late Pat Morita’s legacy, the final result told a different story.
Cobra Kai Fans Didn’t Like Seeing Mr. Miyagi Revived With AI
Season six of Cobra Kai has been split into three parts, with the second dropping last Friday (15). Among the many surprises, one, in particular, set social media abuzz. The final episode brought back Mr. Miyagi — one of the most iconic figures from The Karate Kid franchise — but the execution left room for improvement.
Pat Morita left a lasting legacy in the saga, but to honor him with a cameo as the iconic karate master in the new season, the creators turned to artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, fans were quick to point out that the scene didn’t look natural at all:
OMG NO!!! Did Cobra Kai just use AI to bring back Pat Morita? This looks awful😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/dmUAY0OVKL
— Steph Anie (@mynerdyhome) November 18, 2024
Oh no. Well… it was good while it lasted.
— Stuttering Craig (Official) (@StutteringCraig) November 18, 2024
Looks like they ran a still picture through that move AI thing 🤣Just causes them to wiggle back and forth
— Disparu (@disparutoo) November 18, 2024
Now that’s insulting to Pat Morita’s legacy.
— Jack O’Connor (@JackOCo44903930) November 18, 2024
Oh no!! That’s SO BAD!
— Trish Page🇺🇸 (@TrishPage) November 18, 2024
Even so, some fans tried to find the positive side, pointing out that the character’s appearance happened in a dreamlike context. Others brushed it off as just a brief cameo.
Morita’s return to the role happens in a scene with Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio. The current sensei of Miyagi-Do dreams he’s sparring with a younger version of his master. After losing the fight, he takes a few hits from Miyagi before finally seeing the familiar version of the master from the movies.
Cobra Kai Creators Talk About Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi Return In Season 6
Given what Miyagi says to Daniel, reviving Morita’s character does seem intriguing. Daniel grapples with the weight of unanswered questions about his master right from the start of the episode.
In an interview with Deadline, the creators of the series went on to explain further, admitting that the scene was, in fact, a tribute to Morita:
This was something that was a long time coming. It was something we weren’t sure we would do on the show. But, as technology’s gotten better and we were in our final season—Before Season 6, we sat down with Ralph and discussed what he would love to see this final season. And the idea of him sharing screen time with Pat Morita again was something that he would love to find a way to make happen.
To bring this tribute to life, one of the late actor’s daughters was also contacted to ensure the plan would truly honor him and meet expectations. When asked about how the AI was used, the creators explained that it was a blend of practical, digital, and artificial technologies. A substitute artist also played a key role in making it all come together.
In addition, since Miyagi has dialogue in the scene, they clarified how that part was created:
There’s some digital design, like mapping of faces that happens and using artificial intelligence for all that, especially when it comes to voicing. With the voice, it doesn’t begin as just computer generated. It has to start with a performance and a tone that needs to be matched so it doesn’t feel flat. We used some technologies that weren’t available even a year ago.
It’s still unclear, however, whether The Karate Kid master will appear again. Given that his storyline still holds some unanswered questions, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him return in the third and final part of the season.
Cobra Kai is available for streaming on Netflix.
