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 long-term expectations. In response to the question of whether the increasingly higher quality of anime is sustainable, Wada stated:
- “I don’t believe it is possible to maintain this pace. What's really important is that the number of anime fans around the world continues to grow. Once we can attract more anime fans around the world, companies will be willing to invest more money into anime creation, which will allow them to continue creating such high-quality work. So, if anything, it depends on the number of fans increasing.”
As for how to invest in this possible increase in investment, Wada suggested that the best thing would be to allocate it “to the people”. He continued:
- “Putting all that money into growing the staff and the talent pool is what we would do.”
As such, the 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 focus is also similar to events at MAPPA, with its salary increases and annual events.
Several important names in the industry highlighted the current unsustainability of the anime industry, such as Terumi Nishii , lead animation director of “Jujutsu Kaisen 0”. She predicted a collapse, with NAFCA data showing that anime production is growing faster than the number of qualified animators.
In short, to meet 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. The animators cited how, given that anime production generally begins three years before release, this trend shows little sign of slowing down in the immediate future.
Ultimately, the anime industry faces a looming crisis as the quality of work and well-being of staff are not addressed.
Source: Anime Corner
