The Most Important Anime Creator Warns Against Disney’s Boring System

In the interview, Tomino acknowledged the current boom in anime but expressed deep concerns regarding its future trajectory—concerns that come from over 50 years of experience in the industry. Raising a cautionary flag against the adoption of Disney’s digital production methods in the anime industry, Tomino warns that Japanese studios risk losing the creative touch that makes this style of artwork so enthralling. 

“After switching from hand-drawn to digital animation, many of Disney’s works became disappointing. But that’s how they’re produced,” he explained, warning anime artists against making the same mistake.

But Tomino isn’t only against digital animation, he also believes modernized work environments also put a choke hold on creativity. Recently, Bandai Namco Group restructured its offices, moving into a state-of-the-art facility. The new facilities are completely modern, similar to the offices Disney is known for, and Tomino thinks this could have a negative impact on the anime industry as well.

Tomino acknowledged that the building is “magnificent,” complete with modern upgrades and amazing air conditioning. And while one might think this was a good thing for a work environment, Tomino disagrees. He emphasized his point by comparing the state-of-the-art facilities to Disney and explaining why this is bad news for anime. 

“A creative person must have a crazy side, spiritual, earthy, and indie-like,” he said. Tomino explained that if an artist is able to create in comfortable conditions, then they should do that. However, he doesn’t believe modernizing the industry as Disney has is actually helpful to artists. 

“When I look back at something like Machiko Hasegawa’s Sazae-san, I get the sense that it was drawn in a drafty workplace during the post-war period when manga began to appear,” he said, furthering his point that state-of-the-art working conditions suffocate creativity. “I feel there is a danger that sense may disappear.”

On the one hand, Tomino has a point. It makes sense that artists would need to embrace their eccentricities and maintain a connection with their roots. Likewise, a controlled environment overlorded by digital systems could squash their creativity. Then again, just as the animation artists at Disney in California likely enjoy their A/C, it’s possible the anime artists at Bandai Namco Group feel more comfortable reporting to work in a pleasantly cool environment.

Whether Disney’s “boring” influences affect the anime industry in Japan or not, at the end of the day, change is imminent. Tomino acknowledged that his own anime has gone through unwanted changes over time and Tomino is disappointed that the foundational messages he put into Gundam, like themes of society and war, are not taken as seriously as he’d like. But he explained that was a sacrifice he had to make for the success of the show, explaining, “Children like dinosaurs and giant robots, and Gundam’s popularity is an extension of that.”

Yoshiyuki Tomino is a Japanese anime director, screenwriter, novelist, and songwriter. He’s most known for creating the science-fiction Gundam franchise, which defined the “real robot” mecha anime genre. After beginning his career in Mushi Productions in 1964, Tomino is now warning Japanese artists from letting Disney’s “boring system” influence the anime industry.

Source: Cartoon Brew