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 anime producer Masuo Ueda , the Japan
Anime and Film Culture Association (NAFCA) was formed to address
problems plaguing the industry, including long working hours and low wages.
Ueda , who has held management 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 that frontline
workers are on the verge of exhaustion .”
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 whether they are doing their job
correctly or not ,” Yamato said. “ With new
recruits continually assigned to tasks intended for experienced personnel,
studios fall into the worst vicious circle. They lose quality, they have
to make modifications, they fall behind schedule and they 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 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 Japan's traditional culture .”
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 if there is no labor exploitation .»
- " There are too many workers, but the only way to solve it is to kill the industry and start it again ."
- « Chinese animation today has good drawings and plots, so Japanese animation is no longer needed .»
- « 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 profits, perhaps the situation would be different .
- « Too much garbage is being made based on light novels and web novels in the isekai genre. I wish the production companies would agree and begin to deny producing 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 wholesale anime, without worrying about quality, that is the problem. Studios expect to make profits from garbage, it is 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 within 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 .»
Source: Yaraon!
