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INTEREST: Newcomers Struggle to Enter Japan's Voice-Acting Industry

Anime fans often glamorize the voice-acting industry in Japan. Young people imagine voicing anime characters as a dream job.

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Anime fans often glamorize the voice-acting industry in Japan. Young people imagine voicing anime characters as a dream job.

It's pretty sad when they don't ever bother doing research on the field and realize that the industry is not the magical world of wonder and excitement they picture it to be (but they do believe it that it is "because it's Japan"). It's why these same young people (mostly weebs) are plain ignorant as well as stupid. (These are also the same idiots who think they can go to Japan, instantly start their "manga/anime series" and get recognized for it.)

I'm not trying to dash anyone's dream of becoming a voice actor, but the world and reality are never that simple.

^ You do realize that "these young people" that are being referenced here are young Japanese people, right? They're not talking about starry-eyed young Westerners going to Japan trying to make it big in voice-acting.

Yet in the end, we all rely on someone not giving a shit about reality of the industry and be discouraged by it, follow their dreams despite the risks and succeed so we who played the safe path can be entertained.

Just imagine what the world would be like if everyone went for "normal" jobs with high demand and relatively less competition.

No artists, no actors, no animators, no voice actors, no musicians... Whev. Not a place I would like to be.

Such creative jobs usually heavily rely on one's ability to promote themselves, so the competition is naturally more fierce than those jobs in which your college scores can speak for themselves.

Supply and demand are at odds in the world of voice acting. Complicating the difficult job climate the phenomenon of idols such as members of AKB48 entering the field. Recently, Haruka Shimazaki declared that she wanted to become a voice actress in a Ghibli film after graduating from AKB48.

Showbiz: It's not what you know, it's who you blow.

In order to stand out, voice actors may need to participate in drinking parties where the appropriate people are present.

.More and more news appear that as soon as a Seiyou decide to marry and have kids, they retire.
Similar with idols.

Jonny Mendes wrote:

.More and more news appear that as soon as a Seiyou decide to marry and have kids, they retire. Similar with idols.

Can you name one then?

A staff member at a certain anime production company told the website that "Now, female voice actors are only young, cute girls." They explained that voice actors' faces used to be secondary, but now a good appearance is the first requirement. Appearance is more important to companies now because voice actors appear at more events in person, whereas they used to be able to work behind the scenes.

The staff member revealed that networking may play a bigger role than talent in determining which voice actors get roles. They said, "In the end, work is decided by connections."

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In order to stand out, voice actors may need to participate in drinking parties where the appropriate people are present.

If this part is true, then it's painfully sad that aspiring voice actors/actresses in Japan have to take part in drinking parties and other potentially uncomfortable stuff just to have a higher chance of getting a good voice acting persona. Japan's talent pool has never looked more cutthroat.

Prolific voice actress Megumi Hayashibara (Neon Genesis Evangelion's Rei, Detective Conan's Ai Haibara, Pokémon's Musashi) offered a similarly critical appraisal of voice acting in Japan last year. She said successful voice actors may be forced to perform cliched and stereotypical lines in an era of modern anime that lacks originality. She also said voice actors may go from hectic lives basking in limelight to falling out of popularity in just a few years.