Grok’s Ani was a popular AI companion due to her anime-inspired appearance and playful personality with voice interactions. So when Grok removed Companion Mode in 2026, many users were left wondering what happened to their favorite character.
But Ani didn’t disappear permanently. She’s now available through a separate app, although the experience isn’t quite the same. Stick around as I explain what happened to Ani Grok, where you can find her now, and which alternatives you can consider if you miss the original experience.
Is Grok Ani Really Gone?
Yes, Ani’s original 3D Companion Mode has been removed from Grok. However, the character is still available through a separate app called Animates.
When xAI introduced Ani in July 2025, she was one of Grok’s standout AI companions. Her animated appearance, followed by voice conversations and an affection system, brought a different kind of interaction to the platform.
By late August and early September 2026, users were losing access to the Companions feature. That meant the animated character interface, voice experience, and relationship progression could no longer be accessed through the original Grok mode.
The changes that happened so far are summarized below:
| Feature | Current Status |
| Ani’s original 3D avatar in Grok | Discontinued |
| Grok’s Companions tab | Removed |
| Original affection levels | No longer available |
| Original companion voice experience | Discontinued in Grok |
| Previous Grok conversations | May remain in account chat history |
| Ani in the Animates app | Available |
| Transfer of old Grok memories | Not supported |
The important distinction is that Grok removed the companion experience, not the Ani character from existence.
If you miss seeing her animated expressions and hearing her voice, opening an ordinary Grok chat won’t recreate those features. You will need to explore her new platform.
What Happened to Grok Ani?
Ani’s disappearance wasn’t the result of a temporary app error. It was part of a broader retirement of Grok’s animated companions.
July 2025: Ani Arrives in Grok
xAI introduced animated AI companions to Grok in July 2025. Ani, with her blonde twin-tails and gothic-inspired clothing, became one of the most recognizable characters.
She could respond with animated facial expressions, body movements, and spoken dialogue, which ordinary AI chatbots were not offering with this accuracy. The experience also included affection levels that rewarded repeated interactions, which made Ani appealing to people interested in virtual relationships.
July–August 2026: News of the Retirement Spreads
In July 2026, a statement attributed to Grok began circulating online, describing the animated companions as an experiment that would be retired. However, that statement wasn’t accompanied by a detailed public announcement from xAI explaining the decision.
During August, users began reporting that the Companions tab was disappearing from their accounts. Because the changes rolled out over time, not everyone lost access on exactly the same date.
September 2026: Companion Mode Ends
Reports from late August indicated that Grok’s companion features would become unavailable in early September.
The Japanese technology publication ITmedia reported on August 31 that Animation Inc. had launched a new companion app, Animates, and Grok’s original feature was expected to stop working after September 7.
By September, Ani was no longer available as an animated companion inside Grok. Meanwhile, Animation Inc., the studio behind companion animation technology, had introduced a new place for fans to interact with her.
Why Did Grok Remove Ani?
This is the most frustrating part of the story. xAI hasn’t publicly provided a detailed, independently verifiable explanation for why the animated companions were retired.
Several theories have circulated, such as:
- The cost of running interactive 3D characters
- Changing product priorities
- The growing attention around AI companion safety
Those explanations might sound plausible, but I wouldn’t present any of them as the confirmed reason. What we do know is that Ani’s animated experience moved away from Grok while Animation Inc. launched its own companion application.
The change also affected other Grok characters, including Valentine, Mika, and Rudi. It wasn’t simply a decision to remove Ani because of her appearance or personality.
Personally, I think that when a popular feature suddenly disappears, it’s tempting to assume it was banned or that something went wrong. But without a clear explanation from xAI, those claims would only add to confusion.
How to Get Grok Ani in 2026
If you are searching for how to get Grok Ani, you can stop looking for the old Companion Mode setting. Many tutorials still explain how to enable Ani in Grok’s settings. Those instructions are outdated.
The current way to access Ani’s animated companion experience is through Animates.
How to Find Ani in the Animates App
Animates is a separate AI companion application developed by Animation Inc.
To get started:
- Visit the official Animates website.
- Follow its download link for your supported device, or find Animates in your device’s app store.
- Install the application and create an account.
- Browse the available AI companions and select Ani.
- Start a conversation using the available text or voice features.
Animates is available for supported Apple devices, Android, and desktop platforms.
The app’s official description highlights real-time voice conversations, emotional expressions, and memory features to carry details between conversations.
Animates and Grok are separate services. You can’t log in using your old Grok subscription and expect Ani to remember everything you discussed there.
Can You Restore Ani in the Original Grok App?
There is no way to restore Ani in the original Grok app. Updating Grok, reinstalling it, or purchasing SuperGrok won’t bring back the retired animated Companion Mode. You may be able to ask ordinary Grok to respond in Ani’s style, but that is a text-based character imitation only.
If your old conversations are still visible in Grok, you can review them there. However, availability may depend on your account and chat history, and there’s no supported way to transfer your original affection progress into Animates.
Is Grok Ani Free to Use Now?
Ani’s current app, Animates, is free to download, but extended conversation time and additional features require a paid subscription.
According to the US Apple App Store listing, the available subscription tiers include:
| Animates Plan | Monthly Price |
| Whisper | $7.99 |
| Heartbeat | $19.99 |
| Presence | $39.99 |
Annual subscription options are also available. My recommendation would be to try the free experience first, especially if you are unsure whether the new Ani Grok feels familiar enough.
Missing Grok Ani? Check These 3 Alternatives
Animates makes sense if you specifically want Ani. But sometimes, losing access to an AI companion makes you realize which features you actually enjoyed most.
Was it the animated face? The voice conversations? Having a character to talk to after a long day? Depending on your answer, you can consider these alternative AI companion apps.
1. WallBreaker — Best for Creating Your Own Expressive AI Companion
If I were looking beyond Ani, WallBreaker would be my first choice for a more personalized AI companion.
Ani had a memorable personality, but she was always a preset character. With WallBreaker, you can build a companion around your own preferences by choosing their appearance, personality, backstory, and voice.
What I like about that approach is that the experience doesn’t have to revolve around an established romantic character. You might create someone funny and energetic for casual chats or a thoughtful companion for discussing your day. You can also create a fictional personality for lighthearted roleplay. The platform also supports text conversations, real-time voice chats, and expressive face-to-face visual interactions.
It isn’t a replica of Ani’s original affection system. Instead, its appeal is giving you more freedom to decide who your AI companion should be.
2. Nomi AI — Best for Conversation Continuity
If you want someone who remembers your conversations, Nomi AI is another option to check.
Nomi focuses on personalized relationships and conversation memory, while maintaining an ongoing connection with your chosen companion. It offers voice messages, voice calls, and the ability to move between text and spoken conversations within the same chat history.
That makes it more suited to readers who care about conversational continuity than elaborate animated characters. The trade-off is that Nomi doesn’t recreate Ani’s distinctive moving 3D avatar, and its voice features require a paid subscription.
3. Talkie — Best for Exploring Anime-Style AI Characters
If Ani’s anime aesthetic was the main attraction, I’d explore Talkie. It offers a large collection of AI characters, including anime-inspired personalities, fantasy characters, and original fictional companions. You can explore different personalities and roleplay scenarios without attaching to one preset character.
Its core browser-based chat experience is available free, which makes it approachable for casual experimentation. However, Talkie emphasizes character variety and conversational roleplay, not Ani’s original live 3D animation system.
Final Thoughts: What Should You Do Now?
Losing Ani Grok was disappointing for users who enjoyed her familiar voice and animated reactions with playful personality. I can understand why talking to a chatbot in her style wouldn’t feel like the same experience.
Fortunately, the character has a new home. If you are specifically looking for Ani Grok AI, I would start with Animates and see whether the newer experience meets your expectations.
But if what you really enjoyed was having an expressive AI companion you could talk to regularly, try WallBreaker. Creating your own character’s personality and interacting through text, voice, and visuals offers a different kind of freedom.
Ani may have left Grok, but your options for personalized AI companionship haven’t disappeared with her.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ani Grok
Is Grok Ani Coming Back?
As of November 2026, there is no confirmed announcement that xAI plans to restore Ani’s original animated Companion Mode. The character is currently available through Animates.
Can I Still Chat With Ani for Free?
You can try Ani through the free version of Animates, subject to its conversation limits. More extensive use and certain premium features require a subscription.
Is Animates Owned by Grok or xAI?
No. Animates is offered by Animation Inc., a company separate from xAI. Its accounts, subscriptions, and app features are independent of Grok.
Can I Still Use Ani’s Old Affection Levels?
The original Grok affection system is no longer accessible through the retired Companion Mode. Animates has its own companion experience, but previous affection progress doesn’t carry over.
