Remarks of Former President of MadHouse Studios Enrage Directors and Animators

by dtshyk
Apr 5, 2012 4:05 AM | 34 Comments

According to Cyzo.com, Masuda Hiromichi, the former President of Madhouse Studios, gave a lecture at Tokyo International Anime Fair. His remarks in the lecture have aroused criticisms from anime directors and animators on Twitter. Here are the two remarks of his in question:

If you want to work in the anime industry, just jump in a studio without wondering. Even if you don't have skills, you can decide your future plan after entering the anime industry.

The true profession of the animator is key animation. In-between animation is just a training, which you are not supposed to be paid for.

Anime director Nishikiori Hiroshi tweeted that it's quite irresponsible to encourage young people to enter the anime industry before acquiring skills. He said those people will end up being kicked out of the industry.

Anime director Sato Tatsuo said that Masuda's opinion disturbed him because he learned many techniques for anime direction when he was working on the in-between animations.

Anime director Mizushima Seiji tweeted that Masuda's contempt for in-between animation is disgusting.

Animator Nishida Asako said Masuda doesn't know anything about the anime industry even though he once was the representative director of Madhouse.

Masuda was the representative director of Madhouse Studios from 2000-2005. He is one of the high executives of The Association of Japanese Animations and teaches anime business at the Graduate School of Film Producing.

Source: Cyzo.com

20 of 34 Comments Recent Comments

Haha wow this guy.

Anyway, no pay? Sounds like those internships without pay.

Apr 8, 2012 12:54 AM by Mika_Inamori

Not a nice thing to say huh? What you can acquire/achieve should be of good service to you.

Apr 7, 2012 1:15 PM by shakeyourpup45

no wonder: he's an "anime BU$INE$$ teacher"

Apr 7, 2012 10:46 AM by Just_Augos

cutting cost to the extreme lol

RIP animator

Apr 6, 2012 8:03 AM by MorningGlory

divinicide said:

harrysoung said:
Based on what I've read, In - Between animation is what actually differentiates an anime from a slideshow. No In- Between animators = one long slideshow presentation. Static. Non-Fluid. Boring.

What a troll.

"If you want to work in the anime industry, just jump in a studio without wondering. Even if you don't have skills, you can decide your future plan after entering the anime industry."

I don't understand why people are letting this statement go. He's basically saying its okay for anybody to jump in the anime business cold turkey, without any previous knowledge beforehand. I want to work with programming someday, but should I, who know only basic Helloworld java, be allowed to go in? The proper answer is HELL no. r u kidding me? I'll make the business go down to shit because ill drag everybody down.

The first statement can be view differently based on perspective. My assumption is to do not fear the anime industry and gain experience. Its better to try than to simply do nothing and wonder. I do believe you need skill but its nothing without real experience. Its not a bad statement.

Depending on whether he made them with that intention or to diminish the actual value of the field in general. You can never tell with people on top, they're ussually motivated by several things whenever they say something, money being one of them.

Apr 5, 2012 7:12 PM by Leon-Gun

I would have commented on it but seriously, his second one is just so fucking ignorant and sleazy that it makes everything else small by comparison. Work is work and should always be properly compensated.

But yes you are correct. Telling people to head into the industry basically naked and without skills is just completely nocive to the industry. Of course the small jobs you'll get at the start serve to ease you into the actual job and train you, but you can't just jump into a company and expect them to deal with your messes because you knew shit beforehand. He's basically proposing to have a bunch of shitty animators. As if we didn't had enough shows with substandard animation.

Apr 5, 2012 5:56 PM by Leon-Gun

Based on what I've read, In - Between animation is what actually differentiates an anime from a slideshow. No In- Between animators = one long slideshow presentation. Static. Non-Fluid. Boring.

What a troll.

"If you want to work in the anime industry, just jump in a studio without wondering. Even if you don't have skills, you can decide your future plan after entering the anime industry."

I don't understand why people are letting this statement go. He's basically saying its okay for anybody to jump in the anime business cold turkey, without any previous knowledge beforehand. I want to work with programming someday, but should I, who know only basic Helloworld java, be allowed to go in? The proper answer is HELL no. r u kidding me? I'll make the business go down to shit because ill drag everybody down.

Apr 5, 2012 5:47 PM by harrysoung

instro said:

azzyzx said:
here comes the stupid question.

what is in-between animation ?

The frames of animation between the key frames.

That pretty much translates to "what tricks your mind into believing the frames don't just pop into view out of nothing". If you don't have them, well, you end up with a slideshow.

Apr 5, 2012 5:25 PM by Leon-Gun

azzyzx said:
here comes the stupid question.

what is in-between animation ?

The frames of animation between the key frames.

Apr 5, 2012 4:56 PM by instro

here comes the stupid question.

what is in-between animation ?

Apr 5, 2012 4:51 PM by azzyzx

ＭＡＤＨＯＵＳＥ’ｓ　ｂｅｔｔｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｏｆ　ａｎｉｍｅ　ｓｔｕｄｉｏｓ　
ｅｖｅｎ　ｔｈｏｕｇｈ　ｈｅ’ｓ　ａｎ　ｅｘ

Apr 5, 2012 4:39 PM by RaRitsujun

Deardrops said:

jmal said:

Enjolras1830 said:
oyu have no idea how the bis works

And you do?

Making people do work + not paying them = not how the business works. Don't give me that shit. Back up your claims or don't waste your time making them.

Lol true, i don't see how someone shouldn't be paid for his WORK.

isnce the 94 Crash the Bis abilty to pay out bif money has slowly gone down only top Level Staff[ in any production get payed for the most part] get payed anywere nere proper wage simple

Apr 5, 2012 4:29 PM by DateYutaka

jmal said:

Enjolras1830 said:
Madhouse is the oly studio thats got a link to the golden age stil alive Sunrise owned by namco so no Tastunoko not made any thing of note in yaers
Toei is mulit media thing so not counting them
sp madhouse is the old lion of the pride

How is this relevant at all to his comments? Being around for a long time somehow gives you free reign to treat your employees like slave labor?

I don't think so.

oyu have no idea how the bis works

Apr 5, 2012 3:14 PM by DateYutaka

wow... i wouldve flipped if i was an inbetweener.... they work the hardest the certainly derserve pay >.>

Apr 5, 2012 3:11 PM by Neverarine

I don't know who the hell any of these guys are.Though I probably watched some of their stuff...lmfao

Apr 5, 2012 12:16 PM by Angra-Mainyu

I'd like to see him make an anime by himself. Its not easy at all to make anime. They spend a lot of time to create one and its a lot of talent.
You need an idea, something that keeps people interest.

Apr 5, 2012 12:07 PM by KuragePrincess

i kinda understand the first remark but the second come on dude

Apr 5, 2012 8:26 AM by Mr_Gutts

octal9 said:
Without the in-between animation there would be no animation...

Unless you are working for SHAFT, then there is no in-between animation, only key animation.

/Joke

But yeah, even if it's just a stepping stone, the job still needs to be paid, as many hours of work to tight deadlines go into the process. Do you think that junior software developers would get into programming as a career if the first step was unpaid, even if they only do relatively simple functions to start with? I don't think so.

Apr 5, 2012 8:14 AM by Rosa_FOEtida

Leon-Gun said:

Mogami-kun said:
I don't know a thing about animation, but in-between animation is a work right? Something that must be done with knowledge, and time must be spent on it. Then if someone does it, he should be paid for it.

I interpret the first remark as don't be afraid to try out new things that interest you, but this was a horrible way of putting it.

The first remark perhaps but the second one implies a "huh, you don't serve to be paid for such easy job. Do it for free dirtbags" kind of sleazy comment.

Apr 5, 2012 7:42 AM by Mirorin

octal9 said:
without the in-between animation there would be no animation...

... and clearly he doesn't realize this simple statement.

Apr 5, 2012 7:40 AM by wakka9ca

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