Do you love Anime? Do you want to be part of Anime?

If so, come join us, to be part of what you love!

Come join us at Japanese NPO, Animator Supporters!

(Art provided by Naoyuki Asano)

Who are The Animator Supporters?

NPO Animator Supporters is founded in 2010 by Jun Sugawara, with the purpose of establishing a high-performance enviroment for animators. To acheive the goal, Animator Supporters provides stability and skill-enhancement to animators through activities such as Annual Rookie Animator Award, and Animator Workshops. To furthur support the animators, the organization is initiating a new project in 2014; Start-Up Animator Dormitory Project. Thanks to the supporters in Japan, the project has made a successful launch as of March 2014 with the 1st dormitory. However to keep this project up to speed, to take Japanese animation furthur, the Animation Supporters would like to ask for help from anime supporters from around the world. (NPO Animator Supporters website provided in Japanese below *1)

What is The Start-Up Animator Dormitory Project about?

In 2013, Animator Supporters began planning this project to setup a series of dormitory for animators, to raise the living standard of animators so they can focus on their profession. These dormitories provide resonable costing housing to beginning animators and also serve as a place to hold workshops and classes that animators can attend to enhance their skills in aniaamtion and knowledge about the industry. On September 2013, Animator Supporters launches a crowdfunding campaign to kick start the first dorm, on Japanese crowdfunding platform CAMPFIRE.(*2) Thanks to the 92 supporters, the campaign ends with an outstanding sucess and as of March, 2014, the dorm No. 1 has just became active.

The Dorm #1 is located in Tokyo, Asagaya-ward, where many major Japanese animation studio such as MAPPA, SATELLITE, A-1 PICTURES, TRIGGER, and CHIZU are located. The following are some shots of the property to give you an view of the dorm:





From many applicants, two animators are chosen and currently living in this Dorm #1. These dorms doesn't just serve as a living quarter for these animators but animation workshop by professional animators will be held as well. These workshops are open to all animators and not just for the inhabitants.

Through these workshops, we hope for new animators to acquire important skill to become next generation of lead animators that takes animation to the next level.

The Purpose of The Project

Animators who work in that Japanese animation industry are faceing tough circumstances in order to acheieve the unique style of Japanese animation.

1) Low Salary

Study shows that the average salary of animators are lower than that of standard workers.
Animato's average starting salary: approx.  $10K
General average starting salary: approx.     $40K
With such income, it is very difficult to live in areas where animation studios are located.

2) Intense Working Conditions

Aniamtors get paid according to the amount of animation they work on. The more picture they draw, the more they get paid. In order to even earn the less than standard income, they must work ridiculously long hours, and with out holidays. Most studios can't afford to hire these animators as employees so most animators are freelance.

 Image drawing of typical day cycle of an animator
Noon: "Let's get these drawings rolling!"
Midnight: "Can't... draw any more..."

Late-Midnight: "Zzz..."

3) Living Cost in Tokyo is Expensive

Tokyo has the highest rent all through out Japan. Animators whould choose to live outside of Tokyo if they can but inorder for these animators to work for the animation studios located in Tokyo, they must live within comuting distance. Even at low salary they have no choice.

By providing housing for these animators, animators can worry less about their working conditions and they can focus more on to their creative process.

Who's Behind the Project:

*From the Left, Jun Sugawara, Naoyuki Asano, and Shingo Yamashita

Message from Jun Sugawara

"It has been 3 years since the starting of NPO Animator Supporters. We have been able to maintain support of 5 animators. Until now, I have been running the organization mostly from my personal funding and many people ask 'why are you doing things like this?' and my answer is simplu 'Because it's fun!' All the effort is paid up when we recognize the names of the animator we are supporting on theatrical and television series credits. When the animator we support is able to acheive a stady life, or even when they step up into the heart of the creative industry, it bring big joy to us. It's almost like simulation game where, but you are able to see these people skill up and progress in real life. Through this project, I want to share this fun to all the anime fans around the world."

Introduction of the dormitory leaders:

These dormitories will be creatively lead by two of the most significant animators today, Naoyuki Asano and Shingo Yamashita. More veteran animators will be invited to host drawing lectures and workshop. Also Asano & Yomashita's collaboration animation is currently under production!

Naoyuki Asano
Asano is one of the animators with most attractive creativity among the coming of age Japanese animator generation. As a animator, he takes key role in projects such as “The Tatami Galaxy" (TV)(2010),  “Doraemon: Nobita and the New Steel Troops—Winged Angels" (Movie)(2011), "Saint Young Men" (Movie)(2013)”, and many more popular projects.

Shingo Yamashita
The forerunner of digital drawing technique for Japanese animation. Yamashita's work includes key animator roles in "Birdy the Mighty: DECODE" (2012), "Naruto" (2007~), and "Yozakura Quartet" series (2010, 2013). Yamashita's the sole preson responsible to the magnificent ending sequence of "From the New World"(2013).

Usage of The Fund:

With the fund from the previous crowdfunding project, Animator Supporters have been avle to launch the first dormitory project, however to keep the project going and host practical workshops, Animator Supporters would like to ask people outside of Japan to aid the cause. The fund collected at the indiegogo campaign will be used to maintain existing dormitory, to fund workshops by dorm leaders and other veteran animators, and for any amount exceeding our goal will be used to fund the next dormitory projects.

Future Projects:

With the launch of the first dormitory, the plans to start new dormitories in 2015 and 2016 is now moving. Current dorm only house two animators but the plan is to setup a larger dorm with more rooms so support more animator. The objective is to aid as many animators with the project.

The Reward:

As a sign of gratitude to our supporters who backs our project, Animator Supporter will provide rewards that contain production materials from "Kimisora" (Original Title: 君ガ空コノカナシケレ) music video. The composer of the song, HoneyWorks' and Animator Supporters join hands to create this music video. Base on Yamako-san's art and Gom-san's song created at HoneyWorks, Naoyuki Asano created the animation. With the courtesy of HoneyWorks, the Animator Supporters can provide the production material from this music video.

Depending on the support package, the supporter will be able to get the following:

• Digital Thank You Card
• "Kimisora" Graphic Booklet, Standard Edition, 32 Page (2 color pages)
  
• "Kimisora" Graphic Booklet, Collector's Edition, 100Page (10 color pages)
• Original Animation Line Art (Genga) by Naoyuki Asano
  

Above rewards are all exclusive to the dormitory project.

The music video and some of the production shots can be seen from below:








▲Sample line arts from "Kimisora"  by Naoyuki Asano.

Reference Links:

*1: NPO Animator Supporters Webpage
http://animator.main.jp/
*2: CAMPFIRE Project "Let's Start a Dorm for Animators in Suginami-Ward!"
http://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/728