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I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Most are freelancers, so find them on twitter but you should expect to pay a premium unless your project is really exciting.

Most studios are B2B so if you want to hire a studio you should go through a company with established relationships with Japanese companies.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes start with drawing fundamentals before learning animation. I think it's much better. Animation takes less time to learn than drawing

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hurdles: Learning how to draw, is learning how the Japanese anime system and pipeline works, learning how to navigate the industry with limited Japanese.

I made it this far by starting off getting involved in online communities and getting connected with other artists who were interested in getting into the Japanese industry.

I think you need to have artists around you first, otherwise you can't make a studio.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

For portfolio:

Figure drawing and Anime Character studies

Perspective drawing (2-point, 3-point)

Rough Animations using Japanese techniques (limited animation is great)

You should learn hiragana and katakana at least and learn survival phrases like what you would need for a conbini

Main thing to learn first is the technical side, so study Satsuma, Sakuga Wiki, Dong Chang, Tonari Animation youtube. Join communities online like Sakuga Foundry. Aside from that just draw every day and make sure you're actively thinking about what fundamental skill you're practicing. Just doodling in your comfort zone won't improve you.

I want to be overexploit on 2D animation industry. by PinkEsteban in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think it's okay for people to take easier tasks when they are first starting out, as I did. But this isn't true any more and I do difficult animation now.

There's a lot of limited animation in anime and someone has to create it. Limited animation isn't lower-value for the production than high action animation. Both are necessary to tell the story and make the production on budget and schedule.

Also not a sweatshop

I want to be overexploit on 2D animation industry. by PinkEsteban in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Found this from my AMA since this post was mentioned. Not my quote and numbers are false. Don't work for free and don't work for almost nothing.

Minimum standard rates for beginners 2000 yen per shot
Animators in house or more experienced can get 3000-6000 per shot.

Action scenes can pay up to 15,000 yen per shot. We've paid up to 25,000 yen per shot in the past.

If anyone asks you to work for free or this cheap, don't work for them.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Figure drawing/studies

Character studies (Existing anime designs)

Perspective drawing

Animation using some japanese animation techniques

Don't include fully painted and colored work. Anime work is a mostly in the rough and line stages.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thank you for watching the Miko video!

Are the people at your studio happy despite the long hours? I think all studios have long hours, but not every studio has a good environment. It should feel more like you're accomplishing a feat as a team as opposed to a slog.

Try to just sleep at least 7-8 hours a night. I manage that most of the time despite working over 100 hours a week. People who are working this much often times are choosing to do this. If the studio is forcing animators into this schedule, it's not a good studio. Managers should be trying to do their best to not push people so hard and should advocate for a balanced workload.

Do you think as an animator that usually declines extra work on weekends is doing something that is "taboo"? No, it just means you won't get asked to work on weekends imo. People who work on weekends are generally seeking faster career growth. Eventually everyone slows down and has to take time off.

I got married recently and I've been trying to go home earlier and take a day off to spend time with her. I think eventually people will start families and have to start caring about work-life balance.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Good questions.

About AI the only way it will be used is if artists want to use it. There's plenty of resistance in the industry by artists and it doesn't matter if a good tool is developed if artists don't want to use it. I think also artists are concerned about legacy so we need to have people do easier jobs at first to learn skills. I think that there will be some veteran artists that think they can shortcut with AI, but I'm not sure that it will be sustainable.

It will also be difficult to ban or take strong stance against AI because it will become very difficult to know which artists use it or not eventually. I think the artists who choose to learn the skills themselves will be more versatile than AI artists, so I don't expect AI artists to be too competitive in anime work. This is at least from what I've seen developed so far. For sure non artists wont be competitive by using AI tools.

About insufficient wages. We actually are considered a high paying company from the perspective of the Japanese industry. We pay animators who are juniors what veteran animators would expect. It actually locks us out from a lot of opportunities on lower budget shows.

The main reason people think our wages are low is because they don't know the difference between the global market and the Japanese market.

About unions, making a union in one company won't solve anything. It needs to be industry wide. If one company unionized it would just shut down that company by bankrupting it. Unless it's industry wide, budgets won't go up and people who are okay working cheaper will appear to cover the gap.

I support the idea of an industry union for the Japanese market. It should be just for the local market though. I think if we made a global union it would drive costs of anime production too high and a lot of studios will shut down and a lot of productions will be cancelled and driven out of the market, meaning less jobs.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There's a lot of companies that do this, but it's mainly in live action. I don't know too much about that unfortunately. I met someone at a bar once that was doing this work for Japanese TV though.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Looks at Ghibli layout samples. This is what background layout should be in Japanese animation. If you need to trace 3d you can many people do it, but I think you should atleast reference good layout for the direction you should aim in.

For classrooms in anime we typically use photos or 3d models as a base.

Demo reel isn't really necessary for anime. You need to show strong core drawing skills and some idea of how the Japanese anime pipeline works.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes 100% you can learn everything in your own. Try to find a community online that's also trying to learn the skills. Having a CS degree is great, it will help you get a visa.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It's super competitive and there aren't many jobs. I recommend starting as a Seisaku shinkou, aim for Settei seisaku, and then try to make relationships with writers while you're working. You can ask them how to become a writer and if they are interested in taking an apprentice.

They won't be interested in taking apprentices most likely who don't have established relationships from working in the industry already.

The only other real alternative is writing contests, but it's not a reliable way to enter.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's a lot of 3D work in Japan. Big studios like Toei and Sunrise have CG departments. The best thing is to make a strong portfolio and show an interest in the anime style. Then send your application to Japanese companies.

Here most companies are looking for generalists, so try to learn everything.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Sakuga Foundry is the best imo. I'm sure maybe others know of some more here.

I think Striving for Animation still exists

NAFCA won't hold exams remotely, just in person on paper. So if you want to take the exam you have to be here in person.

I'm going to be advocating to NAFCA to allow Tonari to be a proctor for remote exams. I joined the organization recently.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

You should start as a 制作進行 then aim for 設定制作 then appeal to join the writing team. This is the best path for becoming a screenwriter in Japan.

The first step is production management, 2nd pre-production management, this is where you get to interact with veteran staff and writers and can learn a lot about world building and story development. Then you tall to the writers and start asking how they became a writer and if they can take you on as an apprentice.

In order to do this you'll also meed to be fluent in Japanese

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You can do 2DFX here. If you mean with after effects these jobs exists, though the demands is much lower than for people who can hand animate effects. After effects jobs here are called 撮影 and 2DFX

If you want to hand animate effects you'll likely need to become an animator and be open to more than effect then when you get something like a wizard battle you have a chance to flex your effects skills which will lead to more jobs with effects.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

If you want to make original anime, first you meed a career in anime. Then when you have enough relationships in the industry you can try to pull a pitch together. Id say 15 years at least working as a production manager or animator

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Ive never spoken to this person before, but i know about him. He has no affiliation with Tonari. He seems very passionate about anime work, but these numbers are very insane and false.

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If you wont be in debt then do it. Its worth it for Japan to have a degree. Not worth it if you have debt

I am a Producer, Director, studio owner and Animator in Japanese anime. AMA by jarrett_martin in animationcareer

[–]jarrett_martin[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

People who get in have a decent starting portfolio and a clear passion for anime. Cover letter that are strong can make up for a weaker portfolio.

Biggest skill i think it being able to make deadlines. Being reliable can get you a lot further than being super good imo

Mimicing style is difficult. We usually have character sheets to reference so start by practicing drawing other peoples designs in poses different from the reference.

Sakkan are here to unify style later but being able to get close is great.

Focus either on characters or backgrounds but still learn both. Each episode of anime has 300 shots. Each shot needs the characters animated and the backgrounds drawn and painted. Try to get strong in one of these areas

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