Nippon Anime & Film Culture Association Established to Solve Problems in Anime Industry

A press conference for the Nippon Anime Film Culture Association (NAFCA), headed by Masuo Ueda, an acclaimed anime producer who worked on the Mobile Suit Gundam series and City Hunter at Sunrise, was held today, May 19. The association was established on April 27, 2023, and their first press conference was live-streamed on YouTube:

The association aims to solve problems in the industry, including the improvement of conditions of the workers, by developing various projects such as human resource development. In addition to conducting the Animator Skills Test, it also plans policy proposals and hearings with the industry, an archive project to collect cells and key animation drawings, animation welfare-related projects, social use of animation, and events.

Their statement reads:

"It is no exaggeration to say that the exhaustion of the production sites is on the verge of bankruptcy. Will Japanese animation continue to be a place where one must be prepared to live in poverty in order to break into the industry?"

"The management and production sides must understand each other's situation, be aware of their responsibilities, and use their respective wisdom to dissolve the accumulated stagnation in order to achieve a greater goal. We also want to be an organization that works together with the national government's cultural strategy and aims for even higher."

Founding directors include Masaru Kitao (animator), Naomichi Yamato (director), Shunsuke Sakino (voice actor), and Yuko Kaida (voice actor). The two official characters below — Hokuto Mochizuki and Kagemaru — are designed by Yoshihiko Umakoshi (Ojamajo Doremi, Heartcatch Precure!).