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Recently, a statement from the Crunchyroll chief executive has gained traction in the anime-manga community. The CEO spoke about the cultural aspects and essence of anime and the need to preserve them as anime gains more popularity around the world. Fans believe that while the statements seem to be made in good faith, they lack depth.
The grim condition of the animation industry is public knowledge, and anyone familiar with the workings of the anime-manga industry is aware of the problem. Given that, the CEO’s focus on ascertaining that the cultural essence remains intact is one dimensional and turns a blind eye to the disturbing problem that is quite prevalent.
Crunchyroll CEO’s Primary Focus and the Problem With it
During Anime Expo 2024, the CEO was asked about the best way to ensure a steady growth in the popularity of anime considering the past failures. The CEO answered (via Nikkei) about howanime is inherently Japaneseand it needs to be ensured that Japanese creators are always involved in it. That’s something they are focusing on, while expanding the business and reaching to a wider audience. While it’s true that the origin of anime is an important aspect that needs consideration, fans were not happy about how the CEO didn’t address the bigger problem.
Many fans pointed out the unfair wages and the dire state of numerous animation studios. Most of them struggle to meet the ends even after working for endless hours. It has become common knowledge that the animators are not being treated fairly for the amount of work they put in.
Fans believe that the CEO could’ve addressed the problems within the ecosystem that is responsible for ensuring that anime remains Japanese. A fan rightfully mentionedHigh Guardian Spice, an anime by Crunchyroll that isn’t inherently Japanese. The anime faced severe backlash when it was released in 2021.
Important Points that Came to Light
This isn’t the first time the dreadful state of the Japanese Animation industry is under the spotlight. Despite the soaring popularity and profits, the working conditions have not improved. There’s a huge pay disparity between the higher ups and the animators. As pointed out by aNew York Times article, there’s no dearth of talent. Many animators are passionate about their work and agree to lower wages just for a chance to work on their favorite show.
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Studios can easily get a hold of these animators and hire them at meager pay. Those involved in the production and the streaming platforms also have a role to play, but the most effective way to resolve this problem is through the intervention of the government and a better structure at the workplace (studios) that ensures fair wages. With that, fans wished that the CEO addressed this issue which could have helped in driving some necessary attention to it.
Over the years, many instances have come to light that highlights the worsening condition of the industry as studios get more work with the increasing demand. Hopefully, the reform that’s needed and expected will come soon. In the meantime, besides legally streaming anime, buying Blu-Ray discs and official merchandise is a great way for fans to support the creators.
Laveena Joshi
Anime Writer
Articles Published :925
Laveena is an anime content writer at FandomWire. Having written more than 800 articles, she’s an expert in mainstream shonen series, ranging from the bizarre world of JoJo’s to the expansive worldbuilding of One Piece.With her formal education in Journalism and Mass Communication, she explores entertainment journalism through the lens of anime and manga, from mainstream and classic titles to niche and obscure ones.
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