Against a backdrop of increasing international competition and changes in the animation industry, anime producers KADOKAWA have called for the protection of anime’s unique style and the promotion of a more sustainable production model. Takuya Yoshioka, the company’s producer, warned of the challenges facing the industry in the face of China and South Korea’s advance in animation. The rise of foreign animation not only poses a challenge in terms of competition, but also in redefining the cultural values that anime has built up over decades.
KADOKAWA producer warns of need to protect anime from foreign competition
In an interview conducted by The Television website with KADOKAWA producers Takuya Yoshioka and Maki Mihara, they shared their experience working on My Happy Marriage (Watashi no Shiawase na Kekkon) and discussed the growth of anime overseas. When asked about the growing presence of Chinese and Korean animation in the Japanese market, Yoshioka expressed concern about the possible loss of Japanese anime’s signature style and production method.
During the interview with KADOKAWA producers, Yoshioka spoke about anime: “In any visual work, there are elements that can only be created based on the cultural context of the country or region. Japanese animation has a unique sensibility and nature that must be protected,” Yoshioka said. He also emphasized the need to maintain a viable and sustainable production environment to avoid a talent drain to other sectors or countries.
The KADOKAWA producer also stressed the urgency of changing the current production model, which prioritizes quantity over quality and relies on short-term investments: “It is time to rethink the model and ensure sustainable anime production,” he said. While the globalization of animation could open doors to new collaborations and markets, it also represents a risk to the identity of anime if its Japanese cultural identity is set aside.
Meanwhile, countries such as China and South Korea have strengthened their animation industry, with studios such as PPURI excelling in the production of high-quality content, such as the opening of Solo Leveling, and companies such as Tencent and Bilibili have invested in anime production in Japan, evidencing their growing influence in the sector. In addition, the Chinese animation industry continues to expand, with Ne Zha 2 becoming one of the highest-grossing animated films.
A recent JETRO report notes that, despite restrictions on the entry of foreign content into China, the local industry has continued to grow at a double-digit rate. The improvement in the quality of Chinese productions has allowed its series and movies to be accepted not only in the domestic market, but also in international markets such as Japan and the United States. This reinforces KADOKAWA’s concern, as competition is no longer only coming from the West, but from regions that were previously dependent on Japan.
In addition, the internal crisis of the Japanese industry is also contributing to the loss of talent, long working hours, low wages and lack of stability have led many animators to migrate to other industries such as video games, where conditions are more favorable. In October 2023, Takeshi Kikuchi, head of anime at KADOKAWA, stated that the video game industry was 30 years ahead of the anime industry in terms of globalization and profitability.
Faced with these challenges, Japanese producers emphasize the importance of preserving anime’s identity and strengthening its industry to avoid over-dependence on foreign investors and talent. With a more sustainable and competitive production model, anime in Japan could continue to lead the global market without losing its identity. In addition, Yoshioka and Mihara believe it is essential to establish a framework that allows creators to develop their talent in a healthy and economically stable environment.
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