Anime Has the Vitality of a Weed

Japan’s proposed national anime museum, literally the “National Media Arts Center,” has been the center of political debate for weeks. Now Japanese animators themselves are taking sides in the discussion. Animation industry proponents including Gonzo producer Junichi Takagi, Kyoto Seika University professor Nobuyuki Tsugata, and underpaid rank & file animators are arguing that if the Japanese government has the money to build and operate a national anime museum, it should instead contribute that money directly to the existing anime production industry to offset the industry’s declining capital and subsidize low animator wages.

Veteran character designer and manga artist Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (Arion, Venus Wars) opposes increased governmental involvement with anime saying, “Anime has the vitality of a weed. I want it to be left alone. And with government support, I worry about potential restrictions being placed on freedom of expression.”

On the opposite side, manga creator Machiko Satonaka makes the important point that a specialized museum is, “urgently needed to preserve and restore our valuable original manga drawings from continuing degradation.”

I knew there was a reason I’ve always liked “Yas.”

Source: Anime News Network