If you’re the guy who wrote the hit series Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo and have critiques about the industry you’re working on, chances are people will stand up and take notice. Dai Sato, the aforementioned writer, has a lot to say about the current state of anime in Japan according to a conference titled “Cultural Typhoon” held at Komazawa University this month (via Siliconera).
One issue he talked about was sub-contracting, or more specifically, outsourcing work for “in-between” frames of animation to smaller contractors in China and Korea. While cheaper, this will lead to a loss in consistency. In Macross, for example, he pointed out that the continuity between images was awful, with the sad part being that the industry is following this practice ever since. He also feels that Japan companies are to blame for not teaching Asian sub-contractors the skills to craft their own stories and thus aren’t too invested in their projects.
Another bone Dai Sato picked on is the audience’s lack of respect for storytelling. While other regions received boxsets of anime series Ergo Proxy (written by him, of course), there isn’t one in Japan. He also mentioned that Eureka Seven was dismissed in Japan because it felt to much like a clone of Neon Genesis Evangelion in terms of character design. What he’s pointing out is that the audience is losing the ability to understand deep meanings behind narratives in anime; current anime series replace that part of storytelling in favor of saccharine material like maids and cute characters. Anime is overly focused on materialistic escapism, and in his viewpoint, no effort is being made to put in real-world issues into story.
He states that manga will be the last bastion for creativity and spurring the growth of anime. He predicts that anime will die out in Japan in a few decades, but will continue working on the medium despite that. What say you, anime viewers of GameAxis?
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I guess he is right about the outsourcing point of most animes… but then again, its a profitable business at the end of the day. And even if he makes this point clear to his own countrymen – he cannot stop the flow of anime creation being pushed to cheaper alternatives overseas (even though quality is obviously compromised).
I have to highly agree with his point about anime characters being all about cutesy, sexy stuff like maids and such though. Just look at the Hatsune Miku and Vocaloid trend. Just look at the brainless craze. Where were the good days where cosplay photoshoots had more depth in character than just about looking pretty and bishie??? No more storyline play. Just being cute and singing like a machine. And some people can actually tell me Vocaloid is an anime (what a win – no, its NOT an anime. They actually MADE an anime simply because ppl love the craze.) Black Rock Shooter – righttttt, very exciting…oo I so can’t wait for the anime’s release *rolleyes*
i agree with the disrespect towards story telling part. Animes now-a-days just lack that core depth that made anime interesting once. It’s basically looking at pictures moving across your screen without the ability to captivate and absorb you into their world. I sincerly hope good anime with excellent story telling will surface in the world soon.
what Dai Sato highlights is nothing new. however it is necessary for creators and people working in the anime industry to speak up on these issues to generate awareness and maintain the momentum needed for change before it is too late.
Sadly, as with many other issues needing change and attention in today’s society, the masses can talk about it all day and even take to the streets, but it will be a long wait before the ones who can make it happen will act.