Being an Animator in Japan is (unsurprisingly) hard.

http://kotaku.com/being-an-animator-in-japan-is-brutal-1690248803

 

Working in just about any industry in Japan is way more work than the equivalent in the US. Japan doesn't put much value on family time, and so everyone hangs out at the office doing fuck all until the night. Add that to a job that lots of people want to do, and the powers that be hold all the cards.

 

This situation isn't much different from video compositors or cgi animators who need to move from place to place all the time...; like their job couldn't be stable neither if they do it good

 

How can they pay their rent with such a little pay? Tokyo is so expensive!

 

I assume the reason why jobs don't pay as well In Japan, compared to North America, is because the population is so concentrated and highly skilled?

 

Most large scale animation projects in Japan (and the US) were outsourced elsewhere/cheapened by comupter aid (digital ink, computer aided transitioning)/converted to CGI. Vivid animation has taken a hit because it is expensive - to the investors, the less cost the better:



It's high-risk to make animation, many large budget animations have flopped in the past. Large investors tend to shy away from it. Almost no one but enthusiasts, art students, and a few stubborn hold-outs do cel animation - but the ones who know what they're doing with it have a lot of potential to succeed.

To truly be paid well as an animator in this day and age, you basically have to go out on your own and make a name for yourself.

 

Nope, it's more to do with there being no unions to stand up for the workers. Companies that do have unions pay their employees well.

 

$300? How did he managed to even survive there? It's barely enough if you live in rural area somewhere and more half of the food comes from your own crops, but Tokyo?!!!

 

I wonder if he said anywhere in his reddit AMA about how he lived on so little.

-doulomb

 

Not even remotely limited to the animation industry, and most Japanese wouldn't bat an eye at someone working 60 hours a week now... much less then. It's slowly getting better, but quite slowly.

 

I'm probably the only one on my company that gives the whole system the middle finger most of the time. Last night I left at 6pm while others were still there until 8 or later.

 

How long have you worked there? It will likely come back to bite you, even as a senior VP my dad had issues when he started leaving at what would be considered way past a respectable time in Australia. People both under him and above him were, in general, less cooperative for a while until he started leaving later at night.

 

That can vary greatly from company to company, country to country. Like Yakumo said, it comes down to union presence. Employees need a voice to keep employers in check. It's all about striking balance.

 

It's hard to get noticed these days as anyone with a PC can animate.

Just like trying to get a singing career, every second person can.

 

I've been there for 12 years. Of course I worked hard at first and stayed till all hours but nothing ever came from it. The only person benefitting was the fat cat at the top while I was wasting my life.