Comparing Animation jobs from Japan and overseas (Patreon)

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What difference in workflow between Japanese anime and abroad animation

This time, I am going to share my experience by comparing Animation jobs from Japan and overseas that I have participated in ever.

The things I will compare are the work content, schedule, remuneration amount, system, and the advantages and disadvantages that I feel through my work.

• work content
• schedule
• Remuneration amount
• system
• advantages and disadvantages

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work content

Japan
First of all, in Japanese jobs, we are given a storyboard and decide on your part. We have a meeting, submit the layout and rough-gen(ラフ原), receive corrections, clean up Genga, and finish the animater work as a Genga-man.

Abroad

First, you will get information of a brief job description and receive animatics. It is similar to what is called a video conte (V-conte) in Japan, but the timing and overall length of the movement are almost fixed, like in Sen-satsu(線撮). In my case, rather than choosing the scene myself, I am often specified them.

There is no layout work like drawing the background. The timing is mostly specified, so I basically work according to the animatics. There is someone else who draws the backgrounds, and I just concentrate on the animation. Draw a rough sketch and submit it. I will get feedback again. Furthermore, it requires a tie-down process that is not found in Japanese animation. Complementing pictures between Genga is basically the job of Douga-man in Japan, but in the case of overseas work, it seems that Genga-man is in charge of this. This surprised me a little.

schedule

Japan

It depends on the content and situation of the work, but I will base my talk on Japanese TV series. It usually takes about two years to make one season (12 episodes) of a TV series. One to three months is typical for one episode. (Theatrical works are about 1 hour and 30 minutes long and some took 7 to 10 years to complete.)

Abroad

I would like to talk about the works that I have been involved in, but all of them are short animations, and the schedule was about one month. You can choose full-time or part-time work. I chose full time.

Remuneration amount

Japan

In Japan, there is a piece rate system (unit price) and a system where you receive a stable salary every month. In rare cases, some studios use a per-second system. The amount of money you can earn will vary depending on how you work. If you work is very fast, you can earn more money with the former, and if you want a stable income, the latter is better.

Abroad

Most of the studios I attended had a daily wage system. Discuss and decide how much you want per day in advance. The amount will be determined by how many days you work. The daily amount also varies depending on the person's level.

system

Japan

In the Japanese animation system, animators include Douga-man(動画マン), Genga-man(原画マン), Douga-checker(動画検査), Sakuga-kantoku(作画監督), and a character designer. The positions of Douga-man (Douga-checker) and Sakuga-kantoku are extremely important positions for maintaining the quality of the work.

Abroad

This was also something that surprised me when I participated in overseas productions, but they didn't have Sakuga-kantoku(作画監督), and once the rough drawings were approved, they went straight to Genga process. Also, when I looked at the completed screen, there were some changes that had been made, which made me feel a little strange.

Also, when it comes to foreign works, there are strict regulations imposed by the country, and it seems that it is not possible to show blood or depict brutal scenes.

advantages and disadvantages

Japan

advantages...I like the layout process where I can adjust the backgrounds, characters, and camera angles myself, and in Japan, even anime for children often includes expressions that adults would experience. The way of expression is different from overseas cartoons, and I think there is more freedom and flexibility in Japan.

disadvantages...The cost of work is low, and the quality of animation has been declining recently. I think there is a degree of freedom for works, but creators' freedom is being taken away year by year.

Abroad

advantages...If you have a talent for drawing, are fluent in English, and can work quickly, you can make a lot of money.

disadvantages...I think there is less freedom of expression. The timing of the movements is determined to a large extent by animatics, so you won't feel like you're in charge of all the scenes yourself, like Japanese animators who decide their own timings using time sheets. There are cases where there is a lot of feedback, so I think it is better to consult with them before accepting the job.

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Lastly, I would like to touch on the contract. As I mentioned in the previous article, Japanese anime studios generally do not issue contracts. Please inquire if you would like one.

Even if you are working overseas, we recommend that you have a lawyer look at the contract you receive before accepting the job.

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I hope my experience can be of some help.
I am always grateful for your help💛　MÖCHOKO