Studio Chizu President Warns Manga Dependence Poses Major Long-Term Risk to Anime Industry Health

Studio Chizu President Yuichiro Saito is raising serious concerns about the anime industry’s current structure, warning that its overwhelming reliance on adapting existing manga properties poses a major long-term sustainability risk for the entire sector.

Saito noted that the vast majority of anime projects today originate from established, popular manga, which naturally limits the pipeline for original storytelling. He argued that if the flow of quality manga material slows down or stops, the industry faces a real problem. This is why Studio Chizu, which has produced originals like A Whisker Away and Look Back, often stands apart from the current trend.

This warning lands as the market shows contradictory signals. Japan’s anime production value hit a record $25 billion in 2024, marking a 14.8% jump year-over-year. Despite this growth, several studios are collapsing. Recent closures include Ekachi Epilka, Studio5, and Cloud Hearts, the latter of which worked on Whisper Me a Love Song.

The root of the financial strain often points back to the production committee system. Investors put up the money, secure the intellectual property rights, and take the lion's share of merchandising and streaming revenue. Studios, meanwhile, are often paid a fixed production fee and receive no royalties.

Data from JRI indicates that studios capture only about 6% of overseas sales and 16% domestically. This situation creates what many call a 'profitless boom,' where high output masks severe labor shortages and poor compensation for animators. Saito is pushing for a strategic shift toward developing more original anime content to break this cycle.

As Studio Chizu moves forward with its next slate of projects, his comments underscore a critical juncture where the industry must address its dependence on the manga safety net.