The president of Wit Studio , known for the first three seasons of "Shingeki no Kyojin" ( Attack on Titan ), commented on the crisis and future of the anime , reinforcing the growing disparity between the quality of animations and the current pace of production.
Therefore, in a recent interview, George Wada expressed his concern about whether long-term expectations are sustainable. In response to a question about whether the ever-increasing quality of anime is sustainable, Wada stated:
- “I don’t believe it’s possible to maintain this pace. What’s really important is that the number of anime fans worldwide continues to grow. Once we can attract more anime fans worldwide, companies will be willing to invest more money in anime creation, which will allow them to continue creating such high-quality works. So, if anything, it depends on the increase in the number of fans.”
Regarding how to invest this potential increase in investment, Wada suggested that the best approach would be to direct it "to the people." He continued:
- "We would invest all that money in growing our staff and talent pool.".
Therefore, these statements reflect the recent sentiments of Studio Pierrot (Bleach) director Keirou Itsumi, who highlighted the need to increase overtime pay and expressed a desire for staff to receive direct praise from fans through events. This approach also resembles events at MAPPA, with its salary increases and annual events.
Several prominent figures in the industry have highlighted the current unsustainability of the anime industry, such as Terumi Nishii , chief animation director of “Jujutsu Kaisen 0”. She predicted a collapse, citing NAFCA data showing that anime production is growing faster than the number of qualified animators.
In short, to meet the demand, novice animators are being recruited whose work increasingly requires more corrections, putting pressure on animation directors and preventing more experienced animators from passing on their techniques. Animators cited that, given that anime production generally begins three years before release, this trend shows little sign of slowing down in the immediate future.
Finally, the anime industry faces an impending crisis if the quality of work and the well-being of staff are not addressed.
Source: Anime Corner