A recent article published by a South Korean media has sparked strong controversy in Japan by stating that “Japanese anime is in decline.” According to the text, this industry, which once dominated the global animation market, faces an uncertain future due to structural problems such as a lack of innovation, labor exploitation in animation studios, and over-reliance on old titles.
The South Korean media points out that the anime industry has lost its ability to attract new generations of fans. In his analysis, he highlights that:
- The average age of employees in the industry is over 40 years old.which reflects a lack of generational renewal.
- Current productions rely excessively on remakes and sequels of classic workslimiting the emergence of new stories.
- Young talents prefer to work in video games and other digital media due to the terrible working conditions in the anime sector.
Furthermore, the article argues that innovation, which was a driver of success in past decades, has been replaced by repetitive formulas that rely on nostalgia instead of creative risks. The article soon went viral on Japanese social networks, generating a wave of indignant comments. Many users consider the criticism to be unfounded and highlight the global success of current franchises such as Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen and Attack on Titan.
Among the most notable responses in Japanese forums are:
- «It's ironic that South Korea says this, when its animation industry is still insignificant compared to ours.».
- «Anime continues to lead the global market; This seems more like an attack out of envy.».
- «We do not deny that there are problems, but claiming that we are in decline is an exaggeration».
- «What they say is partly true; The working conditions in the industry are terrible.».
- «Japanese anime continues to gain in quality; South Korea is not in a position to criticize».
- «Although it is true that lately a lot of production has been outsourced to South Korea and China.».
- «In the end, the important thing is whether you can do excellent works or not; the country does not matter».
- «What will happen to the future of Japanese anime? The international market is probably the key».
- «It is true that lately animes depend too much on the original mangas and lack innovation».
- «It seems they are celebrating the supposed decline of Japanese anime».
Although the South Korean article has caused a cultural clash between both countries, it has also reopened an important debate within the anime industry about how to revitalize creativity and improve working conditions for animators. While Japan remains the undisputed leader in the animation market, this type of criticism could serve as a wake-up call to ensure that anime remains relevant in an ever-changing global media landscape.
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