Danica Davidson
December 5, 2023 
We all love anime, but numerous people have raised concerns about the well-being of individuals making anime. The Japan Animation Creators Association, which is sometimes referred to as JaniCA, puts out yearly surveys to see how people in the industry are doing. The last time the survey went out, it added questions about mental and physical health.
This latest survey was answered by 429 people working in anime. Not surprisingly, considering the long hours many anime workers do, the respondents showed they are largely suffering from fatigue. A whopping 68% said they have mental fatigue. A slightly smaller amount, 66%, reported experiencing physical fatigue.
The workers being surveyed were asked if they “have, or have possibly, suffered from depression or other emotional sickness.” 17 percent said this described them.
In 2021, it was reported that nine out of ten anime animators leave the industry in three years because they can’t take the way the business works. Jun Sugawara, who created the nonprofit The Animator Dormitory Project with aims to better the conditions for anime workers, noted at the time:
“Japan’s anime industry is worth more than 18 billion dollars. Even though Japanese anime studios produce numerous masterpieces every year, the actual animators creating some of your favorite anime work in abysmal conditions and face problems like low wages, long hours, and unfair labor contracts. Sadly, it’s been like this for decades.
“On average, animators in their twenties earn an annual income of about $10,000. That makes their monthly earnings about $820. First year animators make remarkably less. It’s hard to believe, but some make as low as $270 in a month.”
With numbers like that, it’s no wonder they’re exhausted. You can also check out Otaku USA’s interview with Sugawara on ways American fans can help improve the conditions for anime animators.
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
