Top 5 Anime Facts
Let's get in touch with our weebier side. Welcome to WatchMojo's Top 5 Facts. In this instalment we're counting down the five most interesting facts about the anime industry. Whether you love it or hate it, it's an industry you just simply can't ignore, drawing in over 2 billion dollars each year and housing one of the most passionate fan-bases on the planet.
Special thanks to our users christo for submitting the idea using our interactive suggestion tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
Top 5 Anime Facts
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Let’s get in touch with our weebier side. Welcome to WatchMojo’s Top 5 Facts. In this instalment we're counting down the five most interesting facts about the anime industry. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s an industry you just simply can’t ignore, drawing in over 2 billion dollars each year and housing one of the most passionate fan-bases on the planet.
#5: Animating Cabbages Well is of the Utmost importance!
Given that anime makes up around 60% of the world’s animation content, it may come as no surprise that some mistakes are made along the way. One such account of this would be the infamous “Cabbage Controversy” which stemmed when a series known as “Yoake Mae yori Ruriiro na” animated a cabbage particularly poorly. After airing, posters on the popular Japanese imageboard “2chan” rushed to criticize it and it was quickly cemented as an internet meme. The cabbage was later re-drawn for the DVD release of the series and ever since, anime studios have prided themselves on animating cabbages with particular detail. That said, the absurd schedule that studios have to abide by still leaves plenty of chances for error - even the beloved Dragon Ball franchise has hit hard times recently…
#4: Comiket is Bigger Than Comic-Con… And Pornier!
When it comes to nerd-culture conventions, San Diego Comic-con usually stands as the industry titan. Drawing in some of the biggest stars in film and television and reaching attendance peaks of 167,000, you’d be hard pressed to find anywhere with as big of a draw. That is unless you’re heading to Tokyo’s bi-annual event “Comiket”. The event, short for “comic market”, draws a regular crowd of half a million each year - with an attendance record of 590,000. But what exactly possess these otaku to stand in line for hour on end? Fan-fiction, of course! Short comic works known as “doujinshi”, are sold in abundance at these events - and while fan art exists for all genres, anime fans have a particularly voracious appetite for doujinshi... Particularly erotic doujinshi. I mean honestly, who wouldn’t want to see One Punch Man’s Saitama and Genos get it on? So, while these events may be your chance to pick up the latest hit visual novel or scope some sweet cosplays, the driving force behind it is those beloved, often pornographic fan-fiction works.
#3: Being a Voice Actor in Japan is a Way of Life
With the rise of popular voice acting talents like Troy Baker and Jennifer Hale in the west, this one may come as no surprise. But the culture actually runs much deeper in Japan. In order to become a successful voice actor, or ‘Seiyuu’, you would likely have to attend one of the 130 different schools dedicated to the craft in the country. Once hitting stardom, they gain fan clubs, have musical performances and often stay in the public eye. But it isn’t all peaches and cream. Some hardcore fans idolize these seiyu so much that they put them on a tight leash - often turning against them if they are caught dating. An example of such would be Haruhi Suzumiya voice actress, “Aya Hirano”, who commented on her love life during a television interview - she was quickly shunned by her otaku audience and received countless death threats.
#2: Animator Salary is Shockingly Low
Many young artists may aspire to become animators someday, but for the anime industry it’s not always as romantic as it seems. A survey distributed by the “Japan Animation Creators Association” found that the average annual income lands at around 1.1 Million Yen - and before you say anything that’s only 10 thousand US Dollars. The worst part is, it's not a simple job by any means. Animators are put on a strenuous work schedule to complete each episode, usually with only one day off per week. Some smaller companies opt to pay animators per cell, or drawing, which can often be as low as $1 each. But, at the end of the day, many animators do it for the pride of contributing their talents to these great works.
#1: There is a Stigma on Otaku in Japan
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If you’re expecting people to embrace your love for anime when visiting Japan, don’t be so sure. Otaku, as anime enthusiasts are known, are sometimes shunned by society. In fact, just as in the west heavy metal music and video games have been blamed for all kinds of crazy stuff, Anime often plays the role of a scapegoat for social issues in Japan. As it stands, the country has a troubling low birthrate, and some point to otaku culture as being the root cause. It’s believed that Otaku’s infatuation with fictional characters are leading them to be disinterested in actual humans with whom they could breed. What’s more, Anime is being blamed for the hikikomori crisis, wherein many young men are isolating themselves, refusing to leave their homes. Anime just can’t seem to catch a break, so you might want to save your passion for when you reach Akihabara. So do you want to start working in the Anime Industry? Thinking about copping some Doujinshi from Comiket this year? Until next time, for more sugoi Top 10s and genki Top 5s, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com!
