It is one thing for a group of animators to successfully run a production company in the cutthroat contemporary anime industry. But it is another thing to try to transform the industry at the same time. Despite the obstacles, there is a group of young animators who are confident in their ability to create great content and positively influence the anime industry.
In a recent interview with Anime Network News, anime producer Murata opened up about his decision to form Maho, his vision for the direction he wanted the studio to take, and what he hopes the studio can achieve with its eclectic approach to animation.
As Murata describes it, Maho's creation was in response to a problem that forced him to act. While he didn't go into details about the specific problem, he revealed that it was serious enough that “everyone had to leave.”
Everyone had to leave. Since they were all people I had guided, I took them with me and we all decided to go our separate ways.
Maho Film believes in the power of positive Anime production
Maho Film rejects the idea that animators have to suffer in order to be productive
Murata began his animation career at Reed Productions. Reed is a collaboration between the venerable animation studio Ashi Productions and Wiz, a subsidiary of toy giant Bandai. In 2019, after divesting from Wiz, the company reverted to its original name, Ashi Productions.
At Reed/Ashi, Murata had two responsibilities – producing films and mentoring new talent. Some of the works that Murata and his team helped create include Macross 7, Go-Shogun, and Vampire Hunter. However, in 2018, Murata left Reed/Ashi – taking many of the animators he had mentored at Reed/Ashi with him. Soon after, Murata and the illustrators he brought over from Reed/Ashi founded Maho Film Company in Tokyo. Since its inception, Maho has worked on I'm the Villainess, So I'm Taming the Final Boss, and My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1.
Rather than let his team scatter and find work at other production companies, Murata, an anime industry veteran with over 20 years of shepherding anime from concept to theatrical release, convinced some of his colleagues to take the leap and start their own studio. However, rather than follow traditional studio practices, Murata decided that there was promise in breaking away from tradition and creating a contemporary studio unencumbered by the history and traditions of the anime industry.
Murata's years of experience at the highest levels of the anime industry have given him unprecedented insight into the good and bad of the anime business. He admits that he drew on that insight to guide the path he wanted Maho to take.
At Maho Film, treat the animators well and the content will write itself.
In addition to producing top-notch animated content, Murata’s goal is to be creative and eye-opening. First, it’s the idea of putting the studio’s creators on the best possible path to success in creating high-quality content that fans will love. Perhaps the most important step in this process, however, is, as Murata emphasizes, “providing good wages to all employees.” While this may seem like an obvious quality-of-life decision, it’s not the norm.
According to a 2021 New York Times article, animators can earn as little as $200 a month working almost full-time. By making his salary public, Murata puts extra pressure on himself to keep his promise. Otherwise, he would lose the credibility he needs with current and potential employees to create the “magical” content he wants Maho to produce.
Another key element of Murata's plan is the technology sector, specifically creating a work environment that is so positive and healthy that employees want to and enjoy coming to work every day. To accomplish this, Murata has emphasized the idea that the studio belongs to the employees and that while anime production is the studio's goal, having fun is not mutually exclusive to achieving that goal. Murata is optimistic that Maho can bring about change by becoming a regular event.
This isn't the first time artists and creators have tried to disrupt the comics and anime industry. In the 1990s, Image Comics was founded by a group of artists who were also unhappy with the working environment and treatment they were receiving from the major comics publishers at the time. More recently, Webtoon Entertainment was founded to overcome the traditional barriers to comics publishing that stifled the creative freedom of artists. In both cases, the disruptors found success.
Maho's idea of having fun and creating great content might just beanime industryis the next big thing.
With major animation studios like MAPPA facing increasing criticism for their alleged labor practices, it's easy to see why something like Maho would be appealing. What remains to be seen is whether Murata can find similar success in animation production. Judging by his client list, completed projects, and the constant demand for his services, Maho's idea of having fun and creating great content might just be the thing. anime industryis the next big thing.
Source: Anime Network News, New York Times