Making anime isn't easy! Not only is it a highly skilled profession, but loads of talented people are trying to break in. P.A. Works, the studio behind anime Shirobako, is now hiring for whatever it's making next spring, and the hourly animator salary is not so good.

Many anime studios tend to look like regular, bland offices. They're functional, which is fine, but lack personality and style. The new headquarters for anime studio P.A. Works is functional, too, but it also looks quite nice.

Shirobako is set in an anime studio, giving viewers an inside (and often, clever) look at how anime is made. Many of the characters are inspired by folks working in animation.

There are lots of visual gags in anime. Some are funny! Some are not. But few are this biting about the anime industry itself.

Ever wonder how an anime is made?