As Japan’s anime industry continues to captivate global audiences, a quiet crisis is unfolding behind the scenes — the fading transfer of essential skills from one generation of creators to the next. To confront this challenge, the Japan Anime Film Culture Association (NAFCA) has launched the industry’s first-ever role-based survey, focusing on how knowledge and techniques are (or aren’t) being passed down within the sector. With experts from top universities and data science institutions involved, this initiative aims to shine a light on the true state of mentorship and sustainability in anime production.
NAFCA Launches Second Anime Industry Survey
The Japan Anime Film Culture Association (NAFCA), an organization formed in 2023 by anime producers, directors, animators, and voice actors, has begun its second major survey of the anime industry. This year’s initiative marks a significant step forward: for the first time, NAFCA is conducting a role-specific investigation into how essential knowledge and skills are transferred within the anime production field.
Why Skills Transfer Is a Growing Concern in the Anime World
In the 2023–2024 survey, NAFCA uncovered more than just long working hours and low pay. One of the most alarming findings was the breakdown in traditional mentorship and training systems. With fewer structured pathways for on-the-job learning, many younger professionals are left to “figure things out” without proper guidance — a reality that threatens the long-term sustainability of high-quality anime production.
What Makes This Survey a First for the Industry
Unlike general industry surveys, this second investigation dives deeper by focusing on individual roles within the anime pipeline — such as animators, sound engineers, background artists, directors, and more. Each profession has unique challenges and training paths, which this approach acknowledges. According to NAFCA, this is the first time in the industry that such a granular analysis has been attempted.
Survey Details: Who, When, and How
The survey will run from April 30 to May 31, 2025 and will be conducted online using a secure web questionnaire system. The target participants are members of NAFCA currently working in various positions across the anime industry. The initiative has academic backing from Dr. Eika Aoki (University of Tokyo) and Dr. Ayano Takeuchi (Chuo University), as well as support from the analytics firm Tanabata Laboratory. Their involvement ensures that the data collected will be professionally analyzed and published in a meaningful way.
Can Data Help Save the Future of Anime?
With talent shortages becoming more acute and industry veterans retiring or burning out, the question of who will carry anime forward looms large. NAFCA hopes this survey will help identify gaps in mentorship, training models that actually work, and structural barriers preventing knowledge-sharing. In doing so, it may inform future policy decisions, studio practices, and educational programs.
How to Support This Initiative
If you’re a working professional in the anime industry, participating in this survey is one of the most effective ways to ensure your voice is heard and your experience counted. Even if you’re not in the industry, spreading awareness of this effort helps support a more sustainable creative ecosystem. The results of the survey are expected to be published publicly later this year.
The future of anime depends not only on talent but on the structures that support it. If you’re part of the industry, take a few minutes to join NAFCA’s 2025 survey. Your insights could help shape the next generation of creators. And if you’re a fan or ally, help amplify this effort — because anime’s legacy is something we all share.
© Japan Anime Film Culture Association (NAFCA)
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