MAPPA has numerous hit titles under its belt, including Jujutsu Kaisen, Vinland Saga and even Chainsaw Man. Despite that, the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of the anime studio are the infamous reports about how the production staff at MAPPA are often overworked.
However, in a recent interview, Hiroya Hasegawa, Executive Vice President and producer at MAPPA, acknowledged the challenges within the anime industry and the need for organizational change to support employee well-being.
Speaking to Real Sound, Hasegawa said that a lot more people are recently engaging in animation. However, when they get involved in anime production professionally, there is discrepancy between their initial perceptions and the demanding realities they faced.
“There are countless challenges, but this isn’t limited to just MAPPA. In recent years, compared to when we first entered the industry, more people have casually engaged with animation. As a result, when they actually become involved in anime production, many experience a gap between their expectations and the reality of the industry.”
Hasegawa indicated that MAPPA is actively considering methods to bridge this expectation gap. He then noted that a growing number of professionals in anime production are also seeking to separate work life from their private life.
Hasegawa was of the opinion that instead of leaving the matter of working hours solely to employees, companies, including MAPPA, should take organizational responsibility to ensure that animators have better work life balance.
“In terms of working styles, I get the impression that more people in the production field now want to separate work from their private lives and maintain a better balance compared to before. Adapting to the times, it’s important for companies to take a stance that doesn’t leave achieving this balance solely up to individuals, but rather ensures that such working conditions are upheld as an organization.“
The remarks come as the anime industry continues to attract a larger and more diverse workforce, prompting calls for improved labor practices. In fact, Japan has improved its labor laws in order to curb the exploitation of the anime industry staff.
On the other hand, MAPPA’s production issues have been out in the open with animators recounting how bad the working conditions at the studio were.
Source: Realsound
