how much does anime production cost

by Prof. Lowell Hane 6 min read
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Like other entertainment ventures, any anime production has to ensure that its budget matches its expected earnings. According to Masamune Sakaki , a CG creator in the anime industry, an average 13-episode anime season costs around 250 million yen (or $2 million).Aug 13, 2015

Full Answer

How much does it cost to make an anime?

And while that may be true it still isn´t cheap to make an Anime. So how much does one Anime Episode cost to make? The average cost of a simple 60-second 2D Animation is around 6000 $. A whole Episode can cost between 100.000 $ to 300.000 $. So a 12 Episode long Season can cost up to 3.6 million US Dollars.

Why are anime movies so expensive?

But since then, the technology used for animation has improved and changed, and the cost of making movies has become much higher, animated or otherwise. It’s no surprise that the production costs of some of the anime films coming out of Japan in the last decade have blown Steamboy out of the water.

How much does it cost to make an animated TV show?

A whole episode will more or less cost between $100,000 to $300,000. A 12 episode long Season can cost up to $3.6 million. Remember, this is only the production and does not factor in the marketing costs. While these production costs tend to seem pretty incredible, they don’t come anywhere near the cost of other animated shows.

How do anime broadcasters make money?

The closest example in the west would be something like a syndicator or a distributor. In order to secure funding for the anime, the broadcaster works with an advertising agency to negotiate with sponsors and get together the money necessary to produce the anime. Let’s take a look at how this usually works!

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Is making anime expensive?

Making anime is cheap, sometimes. If you have animation skill, scriptwriting, and voice acting, you can make one for free. However, since I doubt you can animate, write, and voice ten characters, you can hire animators for quite a lot. Three-minute long animations can already cost anywhere between 10 and 60 dollars.

How much did it cost to make one piece anime?

One Piece – $90,000 Per Episode One of the longest running anime in existence also has a humongous per episode budget. According to Anime News Network, one episode of One Piece is 10 Million Yen.

How much does it cost for one anime episode?

According to an investigation by Media Development Research Institute Inc., a 30 minute episode of a TV anime in 2010 that totaled 11,000,000 yen (about US $145,214 at the current exchange rate) consisted of the following expenses: (Note: All US dollar conversions are approximate based on current exchange rate.)

How is anime funded?

In order to secure funding for the anime, the broadcaster works with an advertising agency to negotiate with sponsors and get together the money necessary to produce the anime.

What anime has the biggest budget?

The 10 Most Expensive Anime Of The Decade (& How Much They Cost To Make)1 The Tale of Princess Kaguya: $53,400,000.2 Stand By Me Doraemon: $35,000,000. ... 3 Space Pirate Captain Harlock: $31,000,000. ... 4 The Wind Rises: $31,000,000. ... 5 From Up On Poppy Hill: $28,000,000. ... 6 When Marnie Was There: $11,300,000. ... More items...•

Is anime cheaper to produce?

Anime already is one of the more cheaper variations of Animation, because it is comparably simple in style. Anime was invented because of the high Animation costs and was specially developed to cost less.

How much money is Naruto making?

The Naruto franchise has grossed more than $10 billion since its creation.

How much does it cost to make 1 episode of Demon Slayer?

It's just incredible & mind-blowing, and the viewers get amazed after seeing it. But, this beautiful & bright animation of Demon Slayer costs around US $80,000 – $90,000 (¥9-10 million) per episode. Yes, eighty thousand bucks just for a single episode of Demon Slayer.

How much did it cost to air One Piece?

In 2002, it cost approximately 90 million yen to broadcast a month of thirty-minute episodes of One Piece from at 7pm on Sunday nights on Fuji Television. Their advertising agency, Asatsu-DK Inc., would collect the money from sponsors — which was to purchase advertising spots for commercials when the episode aired as well as to get their name in the anime — and provide it to the Fuji Television.

How much did Sega sell Evangelion?

When Evangelion was sold in the US, Europe, and across Asia, each episode was sold for approximately $10,000 — or $260,000 for all 26 episodes. As a rights-holder, Sega was entitled to a portion of these profits. In a normal anime production, such as with One Piece, ...

Is Medabot a hit?

Such is the case with the anime Medarot ( Medabot in the West). Though not exactly a failure in Japan, the anime didn’ t really take off and wasn’t really a “hit” by any measure. In America, however, it was licensed by Nelvana Limited and was a major success (together with the toys licensed by Hasbro) and turned into a source of profit for the original sponsors back in Japan, who also earned income off of other derivative works.

Is neon Genesis Evangelion an anime?

Though what I just described is how most broadcast anime works , Neon Genesis Evangelion is a bit of an odd duck in that regard. Instead of going through the normal channels involving a series of middlemen — all of whom take their own cut — to get the anime produced, the production company decided to forgo the advertising agency and create an anime production committee instead. This committee was charged with working with sponsors to receive funds directly and skipped the broadcaster (and thus advertising agency) entirely.

Is anime cheap?

As I’m sure you can tell, producing an anime isn’t cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but with the rise of anime’s prominence across the globe as a style truly unique to Japan, there’s definitely a great deal of profit left to be made for those creators who are able to produce a hit (and the studios behind them).

Is Japanese anime still an art form?

Though the trends have been (slowly) changing in the west — particularly in production values and the increase in status of voice acting as a profession — Japanese anime still stands out for being an art form in and of itself. That raises the question, then, of just how much it actually costs to produce an anime. Let’s take a look!

Does Sega have rights to One Piece?

In a normal anime production, such as with One Piece, Bandai (an advertiser) wouldn’t ben entitled to any additional profits, no matter how successful the anime was.

How much did Shirobako cost?

In a July interview, Takayuki Nagatani, producer of Shirobako (itself an anime about anime production), claimed that his show cost 500 million yen (or $4 million) for 24 episodes. In order to make it sell, he had to "advertise it, plan events, and make merchandise.".

How much does an anime season cost?

According to Masamune Sakaki, a CG creator in the anime industry, an average 13-episode anime season costs around 250 million yen (or $2 million). He also made it clear that most anime can't recoup this expense, and the industry rests on the windfall of a few big hits. In a July interview, Takayuki Nagatani, producer of Shirobako (itself an anime about anime production), claimed that his show cost 500 million yen (or $4 million) for 24 episodes. In order to make it sell, he had to "advertise it, plan events, and make merchandise." Shinji Takamatsu, a veteran animator, cited a figure of 150 to

How long should an anime opening be?

The opening song helps to explain what’s being shown on screen and emphasize what the series is about. All of this must be between 30 seconds and 1 minute.

How much do animators make?

As for the hard-working animators, average pay is a mere $27,689 a year.

What is localization in anime?

Localization: This is when the company lets another company (Like funamation) Distribute the show outside Japan. A lot of times most of this money is not going to go to the Anime Studio. But some of it will, and it will help some. More often they get extra money by helping fix the show for the new market.

How many seconds of footage can a senior produce?

Seniors would be able to produce 60 seconds of footage a week, Intermediates 50 and Juniors 40. There’s a little discrepancy in over capacity to help smooth over any production difficulties that may occur - somebody’s sick, there’s an extra scene that needed to be done, etc. This is not an industry standard however.

How long does it take to become an animator?

By yourself? Almost certainly. You would have to be good at animation, it might take as much as a year. But don’t worry, if you put in the work, it can happen.

Why was anime invented?

According to reports, Anime was invented because of the high Animation costs and was specially developed to cost less . If you think anime can only be made in Japan then you will need to have a quick rethink. Animes are made in America too.

Why are anime studios closed?

Many studios have closed because they can’t find animators. Some envisage that animators could start leaving Japan for foreign animation studios.

Why is animation so expensive?

Anime already is one of the cheaper variations of Animation, maybe because it is comparably simple in style.

What is the first phase of animation?

The Concept Phase. This is always the first phase for the creation of animations. In this Phase, the Animators will draw concepts to the characters. They will also do a little test Animations and try to work out how the characters move. Then they will start to conceptualize the backgrounds, lighting, and style of Animation.

How much does a 30 minute episode of My Hero Academia cost?

Also, a report published by the Media Development Research Institute Inc in 2018 noted that a single My Hero Academia 30 minute anime episode costs 12,000,000 yen, which exchanged to $108,480.00. The report also broke down where all that money goes. Costs are set for current exchange rates:

What is the story board phase?

The Story Board Phase. Once the Project passes through the first Phase, then the Animators will go to the second Phase. In this phase the action, the “Movie sets”, the cuts and the composition of the whole story will be drawn out as a reference for every Animation.

How long does it take to make an anime?

These are the works that go into creating every minute of Anime and depending on the studio, creating only 60 seconds of Animation can take anywhere between three weeks and up to two months. And even though Anime is not as expensive as other Animations like 3D rendered Animations or very detailed as other 2D Animations, it still is not cheap to make.

What is the last movie Hayao Miyazaki made?

The Wind Rises is considered by many to be Hayao Miyazaki’s magnum opus. It was the last film he made before he announced his retirement. The story, which follows Jiro Horikoshi, a real-life man who designed airplanes in Japan that were later used for warfare.

What is the movie Frieza about?

The movie tells the story of Frieza, who comes back to life with the help of the Dragon Balls, and his subsequent training as he seeks to defeat Goku and his friends, who are responsible for his demise.

How much did the Tale of Princess Kaguya cost?

1 The Tale of Princess Kaguya: $53,400,000. It is both surprising and unsurprising that a Studio Ghibli film is at the top of this list. On the one hand, they are responsible for four other entries on the list, making it easy to believe that they could take the top spot for most expensive production.

How much is the movie "Up on Poppy Hill"?

5 From Up On Poppy Hill: $28,000,000. From Up on Poppy Hill is Studio Ghibli’s earliest film in the 2010s, with a 2011 release date. The film, like many of the later Studio Ghibli films, is a drama about two teenagers in 1960s Japan who are working with their friends to try to save an old school club building where they spend time.

What is the story of the Red Sea Turtle?

The story follows a man who is stranded on a desert island and becomes friends with a giant red sea turtle. The film has no dialogue at all, relying on the score and the incredible animation to tell a powerful story.

When did the Red Turtle come out?

The Red Turtle was a big talking point in anime films when it came out in 2016. The animation is gorgeous, and there was a lot of talk about its links to Studio Ghibli. Though it’s only co-produced by Ghibli, the film is experimental and artistic in much the same way Ghibli films are.

Where is Liz Adler?

Liz Adler is a writer and editor based in San Diego, CA. She holds an MFA from San Diego State University and a Bachelor's of Arts from Illinois State University. Her work has been featured at Loser City, HelloGiggles, and Women Write About Comics among others. In her free time, you can find her eating hummus, riding the Haunted Mansion, or being suffocated by her cats, Moo and Mai Tai.

How much does an anime cost?

It's not cheap. Anime, however, goes much, much lower. A typical show can cost as little as US$125,000 per episode. On occasion a very well-off production can go north of US$300,000 per episode, but that's pretty rare. Budgets for an anime are never made public, but that's the general level things are at.

How much did the Wind Rises anime cost?

But anime can, on rare occasion, be quite spendy. The Wind Rises had a reported budget of US$30 Million, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya, with its infamous ten year production schedule, likely cost even more. Back in 1987 Akira was made for a then-record ¥1.1 Billion, which would be around US$10.6 Million today.

How much does a Simpsons show cost?

The average American 2D TV series like The Simpsons or a Nickelodeon show can cost quite a bit of money, typically US$1-2 Million per episode. The longer a show goes on, the more it costs to produce because most of the creative staff get a bump in pay every season.

How much did the 2002 Powerpuff Girls movie cost?

There aren't many low-budget pieces of 2D feature animation being made Stateside these days, but here's a couple points of reference: the 2002 Powerpuff Girls movie had an estimated budget of US$11 Million. 1996's Beavis and Butthead Do America similarly came in at around US$12 Million. Compare that to anime's mid-range: Mamoru Oshii 's The Sky Crawlers had a budget of only US$2.6 Million, and Satoshi Kon 's Millennium Actress came in at only ¥120 Million, which is just over one million dollars today.

How much does Avatar cost per episode?

Nobody envisioned the show being on the air for over 20 years. On the low side of things, cable shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Invader Zim are estimated to have cost a little over $1 Million per episode, and the really low budget stuff can go down to about $350,000 to $500,000 per episode. It's not cheap.

Do anime budgets go public?

Budgets for an anime are never made public, but that's the general level things are at. Where does that extra money go in the US? Mostly to pay people. Animators in the US typically aren't rich, but do eke out a decent middle class existence, and tend to get benefits from whatever animation studio they're at.

Is Madoka a manga character?

Madoka is just your average shoujo heroine entranced by her favorite trope – the adorable, innocent, slightly younger boy. But unlike many a manga character, she's also largely aware that he only exists in the realm of fiction.

How much does an anime episode cost?

An anime episode can cost between US$100,000 and US$300,000 to produce. That maximum is around 6 times bigger than what I thought an anime episode could cost at most (considering that what's animated is a top series, with top animators, top animation programs, top voice actors and so on).

How much does Nickelodeon spend on animated shows?

As for the rest, Nickelodeon apparently spends around $600k per episode on their animated shows; the sources come from comments made around the release of TMNT, but a post in a forum cites a Wall Street Journal article that I can't read because it's behind a paywall claiming that Spongebob too is around $600k per episode. I was shocked that Drawn Together got $700k per episode since it was widely regarded as terrible and was canceled. This Cineeuropa article claims that the average hour of US animation in 2007 cost €776k (about $800k today).

How much bigger is the cost of the first link?

All costs shown on first link are around 3 to 10 times bigger that I would have expected, so I'd like a general explanation, prefarably using the costs shown in first link as a base, of why it is so expensive to make.

What is the meaning of "back up"?

Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.

Is anime expensive to make?

So anime are not really that expensive to make, in terms of the usual cost of producing a professional level half-hour animated television show with top talent.

Can you rent voice actors?

The voice actors can be rented or you can ask your friends for voicing to reduce money until you already have sold a lot of anime.

How is anime different from manga?

Animeis different to MANGAin the way it thrives and brings home the dough.

How does the anime industry make money?

By selling an endless amount of licenses to shows like this and shows in general, the animeindustry continues to make serious moneyevery year.

Is anime a medium?

Animehappens to be another medium, but both help each other make moneyand keep the industry growing on a yearly basis.

Does anime make money?

The anime industry makes a lot of money and that wealth seems to be increasing, despite the industries problems. Here's how it works!

Is the Ambition of Oda Nobuna a good show?

The Ambition Of Oda Nobuna is a good example of a show like this.

Is anime a long term investment?

Animeshows like these is what the industry needs, since anime is a long term investment type of business. Just like stocks and shares.

Can a fanbase sell directly to customers?

They can sell directly to their audience, fanbase and customers.

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