Working Conditions In The Anime Industry

The Japan Animation Creators Association has released the results of a recent study on working conditions in the anime industry.

Around 1,500 people were sent questionnaires, and the association received replies from 382 individuals. Out of those 57.6 per cent were men and 41.4 per cent were women. The average age was 39 years old, with the average for men being 42 years old and the average for women being 35 years old.

Out of those who replied, 97.6 per cent were Japanese citizens and 1.6 per cent were citizens of other countries and 0.8 per cent did not disclose their citizenship. Out of those polled, the average years of experience was 16.3 years.

As NHK reports, the questionnaire polled them about their salaries, working hours, days off and more. Have a look at some of the results below. Some of the answers are compared with previous surveys.

Top Five Anime Gigs/Projects

1. TV Series – 78.8 per cent (88.4 per cent in 2015)

2. Anime Feature Films – 54.2 per cent (44.7 per cent in 2015)

3. Video Games – 23.8 per cent (44.1 per cent in 2015)

4. Commercials/Ads – 14.4 per cent (12.4 per cent)

5. Promotion Videos (such as music videos) – 11.5 per cent (12.7 per cent in 2017)

6. Videos/DVD – 11 per cent (30.2 per cent in 2015)

7. TV specials – 10.5 per cent (11.9 per cent in 2015)

The top five most popular places where anime industry workers live are:

1. Tokyo – 76.2 per cent

2. Kanto (outside Tokyo) – 12.3 per cent

3. Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, etc) – 4.5 per cent

4. Kyushu – 1.6 per cent

4. Chubu (Central Japan) – 1.6 per cent

5. Chugoku region (Hiroshima, Shimane, Tottori, etc) – 1 per cent

Average Annual Salary – 4,408,000 yen or $55,424 (3,328,000 yen or $41,844 in 2015; 2,552,000 yen or $32,087 in 2009). Here is how that breaks down by age:

Ages 20 – 24: 1,546,000 yen or $19,438 (1,210,000 yen or $15,213 in 2015; national average for this age 2,620,000 yen or $32,942)

Ages 25-29: 2,457,000 yen or $30,893 (2,340,000 yen or $29,422.00 in 2015; national average is 3,610,000 yen or $45,390

Ages 30-34: 3,652,000 yen or $45,918 (3,270,000 yen or $41,115 in 2015; national average is 4,070,000 yen or $51,174)

Ages 35-39: 5,111,000 yen or $64,263 (3,730,000 yen or $46,899 in 2015; national average is 4,420,000 yen or $55,574)

Ages 40-44: 5,207,000 yen or $65,470 (4,470,000 yen or $56,203 in 2015; national average is 4,680,000 yen or $58,844)

Ages 45-49: 5,298,000 yen or $66,614 (5,040,000 yen or $63,370 in 2015; national average is 4,960,000 yen or $62,364)

Average Hours Worked (Daily) – 9.66 hours (11.03 hours in 2015; 10.5 hours in 2009)

Under 8 hours – 33.7 per cent

Between 8 and 10 hours – 37.7 per cent

Between 10 and 12 hours – 20.9 per cent

Between 12 and 14 hours – 4.5 per cent

Between 14 and 16 hours – 2.4 per cent

Over 16 hours – 0.5 per cent

No Reply – 0.3 hours

Average Hours Worked (Monthly) – 230.97 hours (262.6 in 2015; approximately 273 hours in 2009)

Average Number of Days Off (Per Month) – 5.4 days (4.63 days in 2015; 4.01 days in 2009; 3.7 days in 2005)

4 Days Off – 23.9 per cent

8 Days Off – 22.9 per cent

6 – 7 Days Off – 18.9 per cent

5 Days Off – 16.9 per cent

Less Than 3 Days Off – 16.9 per cent

No Reply – 0.6 per cent

Type of Employment:

Freelance – 50.5 per cent (37.7 per cent in 2015)

Self-Employed – 19.1 per cent (14.9 per cent in 2015)

Company Employee – 14.7 per cent (15.5 per cent in 2015)

Contract Employee – 6 per cent (23.1 per cent in 2015)

Other – 4.5 per cent (4.5 per cent in 2015)

No Reply – 2.6 per cent (0 per cent in 2015)

Company Executive – 2.1 per cent (1.1 per cent in 2015)

Part-Time – 0.5 per cent (0.7 per cent in 2015)

Temp staff – 0 per cent (0.3 per cent in 2015)

Work Location:

Production Company – 68.3 per cent (90.6 per cent in 2015)

Home – 27.2 per cent (7.1 per cent in 2015)

Other – 3.9 per cent (2 per cent in 2015)

No Reply – 0.5 per cent (0 per cent in 2015)

Out of those polled, 63.4 per cent said they wanted to continue working in the anime industry as long as they can.

The next popular responses were 7.1 per cent saying they hadn’t thought about what’s next for them as an animator, while 6 per cent said they’d like to work in the industry for up to two years and then find another line of work. Similarly, 5.5 per cent said they’d like to get another job in the next five to ten years, while 4.5 per cent said they’d like to get one in the next two to five years.

In case you missed it, Kotaku previously reported how anime salaries breakdown by job.