The buzzed-about anime adaptation of Chainsaw Man has director Ryu Nakayama eager to build his animation dream team. He recently put out a call across Japan for artists to join the MAPPA studio crew. But he’s not just taking anyone – to work on this hotly anticipated series, and you’ve got to have the skills to keep up with the action.
Nakayama is scouting homegrown talent able to handle the show’s fast pace and striking visual style. Interested animators will embark on a trial run to show they can make the cut before signing a 2-year traineeship.
It’s an investment on both sides – the artists commit to MAPPA’s training program and rigorous production schedule, while the studio provides competitive pay and benefits you rarely see for industry newbies.
These rookie hires can expect perks like paid vacation, productivity bonuses, and even family support stipends.
But the real draw? The starting monthly salary is nearly ¥231,000 (around $2,100 USD)—far exceeding compensation at other top animation houses.
Nakayama is banking on the promise of stability and creative freedom to attract the country’s most skilled young creators. With working conditions like that, he may just build an artistic empire rivaling Studio Ghibli before too long.
MAPPA Boosts Chainsaw Man Animator Pay for Stellar Work
MAPPA’s recruitment drive comes on the heels of labor disputes that tarnished the studio’s reputation earlier this year. Multiple animators spoke out about excessive overtime and pay that severely undercut industry standards.
One veteran artist even compared the working conditions at MAPPA to that of a factory, claiming some employees worked until daybreak on hit shows like Attack on Titan.
The breakneck production schedules meant MAPPA took on too many shows at once while disregarding fair pay and sane hours, critics said.
Labor Disputes Tarnish MAPPA’s Reputation
These allegations surfaced just as MAPPA collaborated with Netflix on series like Yasuke. One animator estimated that MAPPA paid a mere third of union rates for the streaming projects.
The studio denied these claims in an official statement, asserting they compensate appropriately based on each show’s budget constraints and have never forced overtime.
But some feel MAPPA is making amends with Chainsaw Man. The generous trainee salaries and benefits suggest they value nurturing talent over cutting costs alone.
By investing in these animators early with good pay and sane schedules, MAPPA may usher in a fresh generation of artists with better work-life balance.
Allegations of Overwork and Underpayment Amid Collaboration with Netflix
If the studio makes good on these promises, it could mark a turning point from the factory-like conditions described by past employees. The ball is in MAPPA’s court to walk the walk, not just make enticing offers to recruit rising stars.
While denying claims of overwork, MAPPA seems set on revamping its reputation from the inside out. They unveiled a new state-of-the-art Ogikubo studio tailored specifically to produce Chainsaw Man with a focus on quality of life.
This sleek, modern facility boasts spacious work spaces and stylish lounges for artists to kick back, signaling a departure from the factory-esque conditions described by past employees.
MAPPA’s Redemption Strategy with Chainsaw Man
MAPPA directly invites promising animators fresh out of school to join the Chainsaw Man team at Ogikubo, where they aim to nurture the next generation.
The handsome starting salaries and unheard-of bonuses show MAPPA is putting its money where its mouth is regarding renewed commitments to hiring and retaining top talent.
Some growing pains may have burdened MAPPA as demand for their stylish animation exploded. But by concentrating top creatives into a custom-built studio fueled by attractive incentives and ergonomic furnishings, MAPPA makes a bold investment towards outputting their best work yet in both style and substance with Chainsaw Man.
Though lofty goals, the glimmering Ogikubo studio and ascendant rookies may give them a fighting chance at achieving anime glory the right way.
About Chainsaw Man
Denji starts out trapped in a cycle of poverty and debt inherited from his late father, being forced to work with the yakuza as a Devil Hunter aided by his companion Pochita, a Chainsaw Devil in the form of a dog.
After the yakuza betray and kill him to get out of their contract, Pochita makes a deal to merge with Denji, reviving him as a human-devil hybrid who can transform into Chainsaw Man.
Pochita’s condition for this pact is that Denji will finally get to live a simple, fulfilling life – able to enjoy little things like bread and jam, falling in love, and intimacy. Utilizing his newfound powers, Denji massacres the yakuza in revenge.
In the aftermath, Denji joins a special government division devoted to Devil Hunting, the Public Safety Division, led by the mysterious Makima. She tasks him with killing the dangerous Gun Devil.
Denji gets paired with senior agent Aki Hayakawa and begins training with another rookie, Power the Blood Fiend Devil, under their veteran mentor, Kishibe.
Together, they end up battling various enemies – from yakuza to other devils to foreign assassins – who all covet Denji’s rare hybrid abilities, while Denji himself starts to navigate life pursuing more normal teenage dreams and relationships.
