"Forget the 'Hall of Fame,' Give the Money to the Animators": Itai News (Japanese language)
An unlikely source of resistance has appeared to the recent idea of creating a government-sponsored "Anime Hall of Fame": Japanese animators themselves. Formally outlined by the Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) in a proposal to lawmakers on June 23, the idea is taking fire from those actually working in the trenches in the industry.
"The number of productions and the production budgets have plummeted in comparison to last year," says Studio Gonzo producer Junichi Tagaki. "We used to get 1.8 million yen for a thirty minute television episode. Now we get 1.3 million yen.... If there's the money to build an [anime] center, I'd rather see it spent on reorganizing the domestic anime industry."
His sentiments are echoed by others in the industry, in which the average salary of a twentysomething animator is just 1.1 million yen a year (USD $11,514) -- in spite of the fact that the industry is centered in and around Tokyo, one of the most expensive cities to live in in the world. "I've got zero money to use for going out. With a monthly salary of 70,000 yen (USD $732), I couldn't get married even if I HAD a girl," moans a twenty four year old animator in the article.
"Totally useless," opined no less a personage than Mobile Suit Gundam character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko about the proposed anime center. "Anime has the vitality of a weed. I want it to be left alone. And with government support, I worry about potential restrictions being placed on freedom of expression."
For their part, JAniCA plans to push ahead with the proposal even if there is opposition from industry insiders. They envision it as a center for educating new talent and as a potential attraction for tourists both domestic and foreign. But with a proposed budget of some 1.1 billion yen (USD $11 million), it's easy to understand why beleaguered animators are looking for charity to begin at home first.
It seems to be going from bad to worse, doesn't it? Full steam ahead on a project of questionable long term use, value or impact because NOW NOW NOW anime/manga is TEH HOT overseas!
Except, of course, they're looking at it from roughly 2004 or thereabouts.
*sigh*
And of course, who exactly judges what anime GOES into a 'hall of fame', huh? Grendizer, to attract flocks of tourists from Italy? Ghibli Ghibli Ghibli to cater to the American snooty nosed "I like aaaarrt" fan? Endless 'robot cat' items that most of the world looks at and goes "um, huh?"
No Tatsunoko because Takara/Tomy won't play nice. And forget anything from Reed.
Of course, we get to that 'give a man a fish/teach him to fish' problem because throwing the total amount of this thing at the animation studios would only lessen the core problem for now, MAYBE another year, then it's right back to the dumper. I still say that unless they find more sources of sponsorship to create competition, nothing can change.
Posted by: Steve Harrison | July 01, 2009 at 04:18 AM
Is studio cooperation necessary for this venture? There must be plenty of private collectors like us who would be overjoyed to have a destination for all their stuff. No corporate involvement needed there.
On the other hand, if you want an anime museum you don't have to look much farther than Nakano Broadway. Except the exhibits are almost all for sale.
If the government could be talked out of this, how would the money be fairly distributed to the people who actually need it? Is it welfare for individuals that slowly dribbles down to nothing over time, or is it investment in studios to help them shore up infrastructure that will last? Who decides which studio gets how much? Or does it all go into a giant interest-earning pension fund for animators? And who administers that?
I'm sure practical answers are out there, I just haven't seen any evidence yet of anyone asking these questions.
Posted by: Tim Eldred | July 01, 2009 at 08:26 AM
I haven't read the proposal, but I suspect the studios aren't being asked to contribute much if anything other than materials. The thinking seems to be that if this money's THERE, why not spread it to those who really need it? I'm sure it's a lot easier to gin up government support for a PR-friendly museum effort than it is to "reorganize the entire domestic anime industry."
Incidentally, check out this blog. It's written by an anime industry insider who is questioning JANICA's anime industry salary reports, because those who actually DO make a living wage aren't bothering to respond to the questionnaires (including herself):
http://www.animestylepro.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=14&Itemid=85
Her tone is a little too pro-status-quo for my tastes but is a very interesting counterpoint to the negative press coming out of the industry right now. Worth keeping an eye on.
Posted by: MattAlt | July 01, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Agree!
Posted by: Gundam Wing | November 03, 2009 at 08:43 PM
For those just checking in now, the plans for the anime hall of fame (aka National Media Arts Center) were cancelled pretty much the minute Prime Minister Hatoyama took office a few weeks back.
Posted by: MattAlt | November 05, 2009 at 07:00 AM