Motoki Tanaka (also known as Tensho), the founder and CEO of Bibury Animation Studios (known for Chainsmoker Cat and The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You), recently spoke to aspiring anime professionals on X, sharing his views on the current state of the industry. According to Tanaka, both working conditions and compensation for animators and production coordinators have seen significant improvements in recent years.
He pointed to higher wages, timely payments from employers, and reduced overtime and overnight shifts as evidence, stating that “the era when low pay was standard and overtime was unavoidable in the anime industry is coming to an end.”
Tanaka also noted that the outdated stigma of animation work being seen as embarrassing or merely “a job for otaku” is fading. With the industry now recognized as a vital cultural asset in Japan, those employed in it should feel pride in their profession. He acknowledged that while animation remains challenging (with occasional low or delayed pay and overtime), it can also be a highly rewarding career.
Concerns about poor working conditions for animators in Japan have been a recurring topic. In July 2023, an Oricon News report highlighted that veteran artists were often the sole beneficiaries of the anime industry’s global economic boom. New animators, conversely, earned around 50 thousand JPY ($350 USD) monthly and were encouraged to practice their skills in their free time, making it difficult to take on part-time jobs for additional income.
A March 2024 incident involved a Japanese animator who shared on social media that their first month’s pay at an anime studio was only $132 USD. Other animators echoed similar experiences, including one who had just three days to complete in-between animation for a popular anime title for approximately $103 USD.
In 2025, a UN human rights committee report brought attention to systemic problems within Japan’s anime sector, raising questions about the country’s ability to maintain its production output. The report revealed that over 30% of freelance or independent contractor animators were vulnerable to excessive working hours and unfair subcontractor arrangements. It also noted that many animator contracts failed to safeguard their intellectual property rights.
Given these circumstances, many in the industry welcomed Tanaka’s positive outlook. While it’s clear that improving working conditions won’t happen overnight, his comments offer hope that the industry is slowly moving toward better practices, even if disparities between different studios and roles persist.