Average income in the anime industry is rising, but young animators continue to earn well below the average.

The Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) submitted a report on the current working conditions of animators at the "2018 Research Project to Promulgate Media Arts: Activity Report Symposium" on February 23. The report revealed that young people continue to face harsher working conditions in the anime industry, even as conditions appear to improve for older people.

According to JAniCA's survey data from 382 respondents, the mean average yearly income across the industry is 4,410,000 yen (US$40,000), which is 1 million yen higher than the amount reported in JAniCA's last survey from 5 years ago. The average income for each job in the industry has increased by at least 90,000 yen (US$812).

However, young people between 20 to 24 still continue to be underpaid as a whole. Their mean average yearly income is 1,550,000 yen (US$14,000), which is 1 million yen less than the national average for the age group, according to data from the National Tax Agency.

Older age groups in the anime industry fare better compared to the national average, with 60-64 year olds averaging 5,920,000 yen (US$53,428), which is 1,960,000 yen more than the national average. The industry average income of 4,410,000 yen is in fact 88,000 yen (US$794) higher than the national average income across all industries. However, JAniCA noted that the bulk of the drawing and animation work in the industry is performed by the lower-paid young people in their twenties. These findings evoked discussion about the difficulties of training young animators and keeping them in the industry.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood director Yasuhiro Irie , who is a representative for JAniCA, said, "Although this survey indicates an improvement over the situation five years ago, there are many people who have still not received the benefits. I want to make this industry a place that is easy for people to work in."

Source: NHK News Web, JAniCA report