For
decades, dedicating yourself to animation in Japan has been almost synonymous
with killing yourself working for a few bills and ending up sleeping under your
desk. However, Motoki Tanaka, founder and CEO of Bibury Animation
Studios, has quite a different reading on the current reality of the
medium. The executive said that the era of miserable wages and compulsory
overexploitation is finally behind us, inviting new generations to lose their
fear and try their luck in the industry.
According
to Tanaka, also known in the media as Tensho, payments are now delivered much
more reliably and marathon days with sleepless nights in offices have decreased
drastically in numerous studios. For the creative, the social stigma of working
in animation also disappeared, going from being seen as a rare or exclusive job
for obsessed fans to a pillar of cultural pride in Japan. Although he
recognizes that the task is not easy, he insists that animation is still fun
and that anyone with doubts should try it at least once, knowing that if the
environment does not suit them, they can always take another path.
However,
his optimistic words contrast with the harsh reality that several independent
artists still report. Recent testimonies from intermediate animators reveal
bills for first jobs with incomes of just $132 a month, while commission
schemes in large production houses set a minimum floor of just $350 a month,
where it was suggested that newbies depend on the support of their families
while they gain experience.
Despite the
existing gap, official statistics show a gradual change in hiring conditions. A
study by the Japan Animation Creators Association found that the percentage of
workers on a fixed salary rose from 17 percent in 2013 to 47 percent in recent
years, reducing the average monthly hours worked from 262 to 190. Although more
than half of the artists surveyed admit that they are not entirely satisfied
with their income compared to the current cost of living, the message from the
Bibury boss seeks to highlight that the old practices of excessive exploitation
no longer define the entire sector equally.
Founded in
May 2017 by Motoki Tanaka himself after an outstanding career as a director and
animator, Bibury Animation Studios has established itself as one of the
most active animation houses today. Among his most recognized works are the
anime adaptation of The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really,
Really Love You, the series Witch Watch and the recent Yani Neko,
a project on air while the executive offered his reflections on the labor
panorama in Japanese animation.
