>Kadokawa CEO: Focusing Solely on Animators’ Pay Leads to “Short-sightedness”
https://archive.ph/tde2u
<KADOKAWA CEO Takeshi Natsuno has argued that one of the major structural problems facing Japan’s anime industry is the sheer number of small production companies competing for talent, claiming the current system makes it difficult for studios to become profitable and financially strong.
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<Natsuno argued that while people often focus on animators’ low wages, the deeper issue is the structure of the industry itself. He pointed to the large number of small anime companies in Japan, many of which have their own presidents, executives, sales staff, and creators, creating significant overhead costs across the industry.
<Using publishing as a comparison, Natsuno noted that while KADOKAWA is often viewed as one of Japan’s major publishers, the company only holds about 20% of the market, with the remaining 80% spread across smaller publishers.
<He suggested that consolidation could strengthen the industry and claimed that if KADOKAWA merged with seven other production companies, seven company presidents would effectively become unnecessary.
<Natsuno also emphasized that government subsidies are not the solution, arguing instead that policies should focus on encouraging mergers and strengthening private companies.
<He further stated that Japan’s anime industry should aspire to become a major national industry comparable to the automotive sector and warned that anime profitability is already declining.
<During the discussion, Natsuno also suggested that production companies should be structured so creators can focus on creative work without worrying about financing, salaries, or sales operations.
>The first TV anime to be adapted directly from an adult doujinshi has been announced, and even the original author was surprised
https://archive.ph/hreQv
<A TV anime adaptation of the adult doujinshi (independently published comic) The Lonely Snow Widow and the Cursed Ring was announced on May 29. According to the creators, this appears to be the first instance of an R-rated doujinshi being directly adapted into a TV anime, without prior commercialization through a publisher.
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