Forum - View topicINTEREST: Foreign Animators in Japan Weigh in on Industry Conditions Part 1: Cedric Herole
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Wandering Samurai
 Posts: 875 Location: USA |
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He is obviously making it known that his passion is what is keeping him in the industry. Another thing he was pointing out is how there is a lack of 2D animation in certain countries, which in a way is true. But it happens all the time where choices you make can put you into a tough environment. Animating is not for everyone, but for the hours that these animators put in, they should still be making more than the equivalent of less than what a full time minimum wage worker makes.
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dtm42
Posts: 14084 Location: currently stalking my waifu |
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He's a very talented artist and his work bleeds with passion and humour. Assuming his Japanese is now fluent he'd make a great mangaka.
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Crisha
Moderator
 Posts: 4290 |
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I really respect freelancers. I personally could never live such a lifestyle; I value security and comfort too much (consistent paychecks, benefits, job security). Luckily, I really like my job as a test engineer who writes protocols/reports and does testing for medical devices - much more structured job that plays to my strengths.
But, damn, Cedric, major respect. That was an interesting interview. |
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reanimator
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I've read from somewhere that Sponge Bob Square Pants costs $500K per TV episode. On the other hand, well-made Anime TV episode is about $200K to $250K.
That being said, it's completely understandable that Japanese animators want better pay for their effort. About Cedric, he is juggling contracts and schedule and changing hats to make a decent living. While he is doing fine, the majority of the industry doesn't seem to be doing well whether they're artists, technicians, or coordinator. |
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enurtsol
 Posts: 14860 |
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Re-posting that latest article about Henry Thurlow:
Leveraging English teaching to get into the anime industry
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samuelp
Industry Insider
Posts: 2242 Location: San Antonio, USA |
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I think this article series is really cool and fascinating, but people need to keep in mind that this is a terrible sample of animators to interview if you want to get any idea of what working conditions for the average animator is.
The foreigners who are animators in Japan HAVE to, almost by definition, be super talented and motivated and the cream of the crop. Many of them got their current jobs using a career path that isn't "standard" for the anime industry. Sure even they may have their tough times or low pay, but when you see how hard it was for them, try and imagine how impossible it would be for someone without as much talent and drive as they have. You know, like the majority of the people in the industry. I almost feel like this series is gonna paint a unrealistically rosy picture! |
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NGK
Posts: 244 |
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My takeaway in this INTEREST piece is - Are you reading or willing to pay JPY 12,000 or even JPY 18,000 per volume of an anime released on Bluray just so that animators can have a decent living wage?
If you want to say that "I support the industry", forget legal stream sites, it's not enough and companies like A-1 and JC staff only gets cents out of it. You have to support them the classic way, buy physical, high-quality copies on Bluray for JPY 18,000 minimum. |
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CoreSignal
 Posts: 727 Location: California, USA |
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Good interview, and it's great that Cedric has "settled in" and gotten past all those obstacles at the start. It's always good to hear success stories like this. Still, the working conditions for animators in Japan sounds pretty rough. At least in comparison to America, I guess.
I think this is a very good point. While Cedric definitely had to tough it out, I can only imagine what your average, Japanese animator has to go through to make a living. I'm also guessing it's a lot less rosy a picture. |
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Hoppy800
 Posts: 3331 |
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I'll pay $100-120 a volume if they cut the number of volumes in half, that means 4 episodes per volume (3 vols) instead of 2 (6 vols) in a 1 cour anime. |
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Jayhosh
 Posts: 972 Location: Millmont, Pennsylvania |
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Forgive me if I'm misinterpreting, but are you really calling the fans the bad guys here? I'm not going to spend that much money on, at most, 4 episodes of a show I probably don't even like that much anyway. I think this problem is something much more intertwined in Japanese business culture than anything we're responsible for. |
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Kadmos1
 Posts: 13590 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
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This is just me, but I think they should be earning a minimum $20k/year. However, with all the costs that are involved (royalties, licensing fee, broadcasting fees, etc.), that is unlikely.
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tasogarenootome
 Posts: 593 |
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Loved this, thank you guys for doing these kind of articles. Particularly after watching Shirobako. I'm glad he was able to find himself enough contracts to make a living, but I definitely hope wages for animators and other staff improve. This is an industry that Japan has a whole initiative for in regards to its "Cool" perception from overseas, so initiatives like getting animators housing should also recceive some attention in that vein.
Haha, the "Sponge Bob" comment stings, if only for how true it is. I've given up hope of 2D action style cartoons, let alone ones with developed stories, ever reclaiming the place the once held on TV, but I still remain hopeful for internet sites or streaming venues to facilitate a "Western 2D animation" resurgence. Here's hoping. |
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Kadmos1
Posts: 13590 Location: In Phoenix but has an 85308 ZIP |
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This is a more humble man on his income than I am, I guess.
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SpeckTech
 Posts: 195 |
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Avatar was a miracle. |
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reanimator
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Looks like Japanese staffers have developed tunnel vision like Western counterparts. I have a feeling that ones who maintains such view are fanboy staffers who managed to stick around as long as he/she could. |
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