In an industry once perceived as a place where dreams were created, Top animators in the growing anime industry often work in working conditions that could be described as a nightmare.. Under the leadership of the anime producer Masuo Uedathe Japan Anime and Film Culture Association (NAFCA) to address problems plaguing the industry, including long working hours and low wages.
Uedawho has held leadership positions at Sunrise (now Bandai Namco Filmworks) and has been president of A-1 Pictures Inc. and Aniplex Inc., joined a voice actor and other founding members of the association at a press conference in Tokyo in May to explain the situation.
“Production sites are far from being factories where dreams are woven, and productions are now supported by creators who are pushed beyond their limits but continue to work hard because they ‘love this job’“Ueda said. “It’s safe to say frontline workers are on the brink of burnout“.
The anime market in Japan grew to be worth 2.7 trillion yen ($19.2 billion) in 2021, according to the Japan Animations Association’s 2022 Anime Industry Report. However, many animators, especially younger ones, continue to work long hours for low wages, while small and medium-sized studios operate in unstable conditions.
Ueda noted that anime creators are expected to live in poverty before having the opportunity to work in the industry. He decided to establish NAFCA to change the environment of his profession rather than wait for government authorities to take action.
One of the association’s main activities is to promote talent in the industry. Anime director Naomichi Yamato, a NAFCA board member, explained that anime production techniques have been passed down from senior employees to younger colleagues for generations. But with the number of productions increasing significantly in recent years, it has become difficult to convey those skills in the workplace.
“Production companies facing labor shortages are recruiting animators through social media. Artists are thrown into workplaces without training and have no idea if they are doing their job correctly or notYamato said. “With new recruits continually assigned to tasks intended for experienced personnel, studios fall into the worst vicious circle. They lose quality, have to make modifications, fall behind schedule, and don’t meet deadlines.“.
Yamato explained that the association intends to introduce an “animator skills certification test” aimed at job seekers who want to learn the basics. The program would also provide re-education opportunities for professional animators.
NAFCA also plans to make policy proposals. “Voice recording artists and actors are often reluctant to get involved in politics. But the situation has become so serious that we cannot look away“said the voice actress Yuko Kaida, who is also a board member. “We want to provide an environment where we can express our thoughts and change the mindset of society. We want to convey opinions of frontline workers to the government and contribute to the development of animation as traditional culture of Japan“.
There was also no shortage of opinions from Japanese Internet users, who seem to have barely heard about the founding of this association:
- «The anime industry is the type that could not function without labor exploitation.».
- «There are too many workers, but the only way to solve it is to kill the industry and start it again».
- «Today’s Chinese animation has good drawings and plots, so there is no need for Japanese animation anymore».
- «The number of people working in the animation industry must be reduced».
- «The production committees absorb a large part of the profits. This might sound like a surprise to you, but studios are also companies, they are not just another worker.».
- «Studios have to stop accepting everything they are asked to do. If they only start producing what they know will make them profit, perhaps the situation would be different.».
- «There is too much garbage being made based on light novels and web novels in the isekai genre. I wish the production companies would agree and begin to refuse to produce this type of projects.».
- «The fact that there are so many works that are wasted without the intention of selling them used to be a way to train animators and secure jobs, but now it is only a way to send work and money abroad».
- «The current industry only produces anime in bulk, without worrying about quality, that’s the problem. Studios expect to make profits from garbage, it’s illogical».
- «The anime industry is already finished, the production of mediocre series can no longer be stopped».
- «While voice actors become rich and buy cars and apartments, animators live in hunger. Have you ever realized that voice actors would be nothing without animators?».
- «There are too many useless anime series in the industry».
- «In my opinion, there are too many animation studios, like everyone wants a piece of the pie that, at this point, is ending».
Fountain: Yaraon!
