The anime industry is in a strange place these days. On one hand, the popularity of the medium is at an all-time high, with numerous hit anime generating massive profits worldwide. On the other hand, the industry faces several crises that could impede its long-term survival, including poor working conditions, a lack of new talent, and the need to preserve its past. Now, anime industry veteran Hideaki Anno—best known as the creative force behind Neon Genesis Evangelion—is calling on the Japanese government to take action.

As reported by Tokyo Sports, on January 30, Hideaki Anno, who also serves as the representative director of the Anime Tokusatsu Archive Organization (an NPO founded in 2017), attended a meeting of the bipartisan Manga, Anime, and Game Parliamentary Association within Japan’s National Diet. During the meeting, Anno emphasized the importance of improving working conditions in the anime industry and suggested ways lawmakers could help create a more sustainable future.

The Anime Industry Struggles With Labor Shortages

Hideaki Anno Addresses Lawmakers

“There is a serious shortage of workers in the industry,” Anno stated during his speech. “When there isn’t enough labor on hand, production slows down. Many anime are currently being postponed due to a lack of workers.” Anno also urged the government to expand tax incentives and subsidies for anime studios. “We are really grateful for the subsidies we receive when making anime,” Anno said. “But we hope the government will provide additional to studios after production to help them maintain their strength. At least 50 countries have tax incentives for the video industry, putting us at a disadvantage in international competition.”

Finally, Anno stressed the need to properly archive materials from anime and tokusatsu (live-action special effects show, such as Godzilla and Ultraman) productions. He argued that materials like animation cels and monster suits are cultural assets that should be preserved for future generations through proper archiving systems and facilities.

The Anime and Manga Industry Can't Be Ignored by Japanese Politics

Other discussions at the Manga, Anime, and Game Parliamentary Association included manga piracy, which the government plans to crack down on internationally. Presenters also spoke on the subject of freedom of expression in manga, advocating for common sense in categorizing titles for different age groups.

It remains to be seen how the Japanese government will respond to Hideaki Anno’s concerns about the anime industry, but at the very least, his message has been heard, and it's surely interesting to see that the industry is rightfully recognized as important by Japan's political institutions.

Source: tokyo-sports.co.jp