As much joy and entertainment as anime brings , there is a dour side to the medium we make out . Working experimental condition for staff members can be punishing , with relentless deadlines and grueling minute lead to serious strong-arm and genial health issues . It ’s no surprise that many young artist are opting out of the diligence altogether , resulting in a famine of novel talent that threatens anime ’s future .

Shinichiro Ikeda , president ofStudio Deen — known for title likeLog Horizon , The Seven Deadly Sins , KonoSuba , and classic likeUrusei YatsuraandRanma ½—is speaking out about his improper attack to work . Since taking over as chief operating officer in 2011,Ikeda has been determined to break the bad habit of the anime industry ’s work culture .

The Dark Side of Anime Production

Studio Deen Believes It’s Time to Change the System

Ikeda recalled a conversation with Studio Deen ’s previous possessor , who intimate visiting the fellowship between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. to see it at its most " energetic . " Ikeda was stunned . “When I heard that , I first wanted to get rid of that custom,“he said . Even at its most successful , Studio Deen ’s staff was eat . So , about seven or eight old age ago , he proposed a simple yet extremist idea:“Let ’s go home at 6 p.m. “But executive resisted , arguing that deadline would be impossible to meet without excessive overtime .

Despite concerns that shorter hour would bruise tax revenue , Ikeda stood firm . “We made it a policy to go home early on even if it meant lower sales,“he said . Predictably , profit dipped at first , but productivity shortly improved , and sales agreement resile . He believed that pushing employees to run late led to sloppy end product , whereas integrated hours encourage focus and efficiency . “I do n’t consider having employees work overtime to make a lucre is occupation management,“he submit . “The function of a manager is to make a profit as a society and pay off employees a fair wage . "

Studio Deen Is a Model for the Future of Anime?

Prioritizing Efficiency Over Exhaustion

The approach seems to be turn . Studio Deen is now celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with several new titles in the grapevine for 2025 , includingI’m a Noble on the Brink of Ruin , So I Might as Well Try Mastering MagicandMagic Maker : How to Make Magic in Another World .

Anno calls for government action at law to fix anime ’s labor famine , encourage studio apartment funding , and archive animation history .

Even so , Ikeda ’s stance remains rare in an industry where brutal hour are often seen as just part of the job . But as more vitalizer speak out about burnout and poor working atmospheric condition , his policy could be a step in the right-hand direction . Maybe it ’s proof that you do n’t have to sacrifice your health to make outstanding anime — you just need a better way of working .

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root : Comic Natalie

Images shows a glowing Mastered UI goku glaring towards a charging Broly from Dragon ball super in the background.

Revolutionary Girl Utena and Sailor Moon

KonoSuba God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! Kazuma Satou, Aqua, Megumin, & Lalatina Dustiness Ford Falling

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