Anime animator shares harrowing experience of overwork

A Shaft animator recently shared their experience with the high levels of stress that come with working in the anime industry. They revealed having nightmares about being strangled and were warned that not meeting production targets could result in being “erased”from the industry.

Hiroto Nagata, who has contributed to various anime productions by Shaft such as RWBY: Ice Queendom and Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story, recently shared a pair of posts on X/Twitter discussing the toll his job has taken on his mental well-being. However, these posts have since been deleted.

In his initial tweet, he described a dream in which someone from his company was strangling him. He also mentioned that the feeling stayed with him after he woke up, but a visit to the hospital revealed no physical problems. A subsequent update confirmed that this was a result of the demanding job requirements, with looming deadlines being a constant factor.

In a Reddit post, he shared, “I had a dream where someone from my company was strangling me and even after waking up, I still felt pain for some reason.”Since then, he has been experiencing a suffocating sensation as if someone were pressing on his throat. Concerned, he visited the hospital for a check-up, but everything seemed to be normal.

In a subsequent post, he mentioned that his role in the anime industry is at risk if he fails to meet expectations. “The production manager warned me, ‘If you don’t succeed this time, you’ll be eliminated from the industry.’ So, I am working through tears and constantly reminding myself that if I don’t give my all, I will be erased,”a repost on Reddit shares.

Despite years of circulating reports, the anime industry has been known for its harsh working conditions. Recently, allegations regarding crunch and inadequate pay have been directed towards Studio MAPPA, the creators of popular series such as Jujutsu Kaisen.

According to a recent study by the Nippon Anime and Film Culture Association, the industry is at risk of “collapse”if improvements are not made. This is due to the decreasing availability of institutional knowledge and long-term career opportunities.

Anime animator shares harrowing experience of overwork

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