MAPPA CEO Manabu Otsuka cites the production structure of Chainsaw Man and Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill as part of the direction necessary for the company’s survival.
Every Kompass, Yuri!!! Otsuka points out that on Ice’s profits compared to its success are “negligible”. “For example, can describe the result of Yuri!!! on ICE, which we produced, was a huge success, but compared to its success, the amount of money that the company made was insignificant. We have a responsibility, I feel – even as we accept this [equity] structure – and we have to strengthen what we are capable of doing.”
“It’s not like we can control when we produce a blockbuster [anime],’ said Otsuka. “As a business, if we don’t take advantage of our limited opportunities, we won’t be able to grow the company. To get rid of those concerns, we financed other business ventures; Investing in the environment and training our people became necessary.” The YouTube event MAPPA STAGE and Jujutsu Kaisen themed JuJu Talk are considered examples of different business ventures. He added that the acquisition of existing MAPPA producer Makoto Kimura, as well as the rise of foreign anime distribution platforms, allows the company to find more opportunities.
Yuri’s ending on ice?
Fans were not satisfied with the news, they took to social media to express their displeasure.
For Yuri!!! on Ice released in 2016, MAPPA has become a household name for many anime fans. Adaptations of Kakegurui, Terror in Resonance, Dorehedoro and others linked the company to a degree of credibility in the community and subsequent restructuring led them to larger acquisitions such as Chainsaw. Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, Hell’s Paradise and Attack on Titan: The Final Season. MAPPA has been in financial trouble for years despite this. Like many other studios, MAPPA has joined a “production committee” with other stakeholders to produce anime like Yuri!!! on Ice, however, the equity structure means that while MAPPA incurs less debt, Yuri!!! The huge success of on Ice has reached other parties.
In fact, since MAPPA was listed on very few production committees between 2015 and 2020, it is said that they were effective subcontractors that produced anime for very little profit. The necessary changes Otsuka is currently referring to are decisions like 100% funding of Chainsaw Man, allowing MAPPA to reap the majority of the profits. Otsuka’s comment seems to imply that Yuri!!! on Ice was not financially viable, which immediately prompted a request for clarification regarding Yuri being indefinitely delayed!!! On Ice the Movie: Ice Adolescence has been promised since 2019.
Pointing to the words of MAPPA co-founder Masao Maruyama, who is said to have joined Studio Madhouse because it has grown “into a studio that restricts creativity and becomes a capitalist venture”, some Fans criticized Otsuka’s argument, while others cited that their weak hands from 2016 made it difficult for them to get out.
Source: Kompass via YoI Nation, Twitter