The Nippon Film & Anime Culture Association, or NAFCA, recently released results from a survey of more than 300 animators working in the industry in Japan, and the results on annual salaries and conditions Their work is disturbing.
NAFCA revealed that 40% of the 311 animators surveyed had an annual income of less than 2.4 million yen – less than $16,000. This percentage increases to 50% for animators in their 20s and 30s. Additionally, 68.7% of respondents work eight hours a day or more, with more than a quarter working from 10 hours or more. NAFCA notes that work hours have decreased slightly even for animators 50 and older, posing serious health risks. Additionally, with older animators unable to quit their jobs to train the younger generation, this has contributed to a skills gap that Jujutsu Kaisen 0 animation director Terumi Nishii, an advocate of NAFCA’s main sponsor, has called on the industry to make repairs.
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The profits of the Anime industry do not go to its creators
Although anime is growing into an industry worth nearly 3 trillion yen ($20 billion), NAFCA has determined that profits are not trickling down to the creators. The association calls for it to be mandatory for animation studios to receive a minimum 30% stake in an IP, meaning studios can continue to make money years after release. Currently, most animation studios are considered “for hire,” meaning employees are only paid for their work at the time and reap no benefits afterward. This rental treatment applies even to character designers, who, especially even for original anime series, often have no copyright stake despite playing one of the key parts. most in the series’ marketing capabilities.
NAFCA calls on the government to take the lead on this, as well as enforce limits on the number of anime productions. While this may not sit well with many fans, the association notes that the number of annual anime productions has tripled from 100 in 2000 to 300 in 2021. This comes while the number The number of animators is growing at a much slower rate, for example the number of animators only increased from 4,500 to 5,200 between 2010 and 2020. Current growth of anime production Led by investors who see high demand and business opportunities, this poses a long-term threat to the sustainability of the anime industry. One anime industry insider recently noted that China could surpass Japan in output if restrictions on free speech were lifted. Other countries with more capital than Japan also pose a long-term threat to the anime industry.
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NAFCA describes itself as an organization of anime industry workers and anime fans. It was founded in April 2023 and is represented by Masao Ueda, former CEO of Sunrise (Mobile Suit Gun, Code Geass). Its full report details a list of possible solutions and criticisms of the status quo.
Source: NAFCA