Jujutsu Kaisen Animator Says Working Conditions Are 'Terrible' These Days

Renowned animator Terumi Nishii (Jujutsu Kaisen) is fighting for improved working conditions in the anime , arguing that full-time professionals are facing challenges similar to those of an overworked job.

Jujutsu Kaisen Animator Says Working Conditions Are 'Terrible' These Days

With over two decades of experience in the anime scene, Nishii has played a key role in creating hit series such as "JoJo's Bizarre Adventure," "Jujutsu Kaisen," "Mawaru Penguindrum," and "Rurouni Kenshin ." But in a recent interview with AnimeNewsNetwork , Nishii highlighted a number of critical issues affecting anime studios in general, including a lack of union support, the frequent hiring of unqualified animators, and the grueling schedules imposed on full-time employees.

Nishii is currently collaborating with NAFCA (Japan Anime and Film Association) to address these and other challenges plaguing the industry. He noted that the main issues are pushing animators to the limits of their physical and mental capabilities . He shared that overtime is often excessive, making it impossible to meet tight deadlines, resulting in long workdays. Several renowned studios, including MAPPA (responsible for "Jujutsu Kaisen" and "Attack on Titan"), have faced similar concerns.

Nishii explained that these conditions are the inevitable outcome of an industry that has historically required grueling work hours to meet production demands.

“Japanese companies have operated in an environment where full-time employees are subjected to long work hours for 20 or 30 years, but instead of benefiting from their 'full-time employee' status, they end up feeling more like slaves… It's only in the last five years that people have begun to recognize that something is fundamentally wrong with the structure of the industry, where if you're inexperienced, your more senior coworkers are expected to abuse you… I get the impression they're looking for ways to maintain anime quality while reshaping the structures of the past.”

The presence of amateur animators exacerbates the challenges faced by workers, as studios recruit them due to a shortage of skilled labor. While they often hire freelance animators without the necessary qualifications, more experienced professionals end up having to dedicate more time and effort to correcting errors.

The lack of animators' unions limits studio employees' ability to negotiate salaries and voice concerns, complicating the situation. "It's a disadvantage not to be affiliated with a union," Nishii said.

" I think you'll be at a disadvantage if you're not in one ," Nishii said. " After all, unless you negotiate as a group, you can't win, and even if one person's situation improves a little, it doesn't mean everyone's will improve ."

Nishii and NAFCA are collaborating to conduct a comprehensive survey of animators across the industry. The goal is to provide the Japanese government with concrete data on the state of the anime industry, thus facilitating the implementation of practical solutions. Meanwhile, NAFCA is developing an "Animator Competency Test," improving candidate assessment and the skills of freelance animators with specialized training.

Synopsis:

Ever since high school student Yuji Itadori became involved with the secret society of sorcerers called Jujutsu Kaisen, he has been training to confront the curses, evil beings that haunt the living world. Therefore, to protect his friends and innocent people, Yuji decides to join the jujutsu sorcerers as a student-in-training under the tutelage of Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer of all.

Finally, the 2nd season of “Jujutsu Kaisen” has arrived, fans can rest assured that MAPPA Studios has already announced that the third season is in the works, promising more emotions.

Source: ANN