Anime Producers Avoid Risks Due to Japanese Corporate Culture

Anime producers avoid risks due to the way Japanese corporate culture evaluates projects, according to veteran producer and planner Taro Maki. In an interview given shortly before the Aichi-Nagoya International Animation Film Festival, held in December 2025, the GENCO president spoke about the main structural problems currently facing the anime industry.

According to Maki, anime producers avoid risks because many companies in Japan use an evaluation system known as a “minus-point culture.” In this model, projects are not judged by their creative potential or artistic impact, but rather by the possible mistakes they might make. The priority becomes avoiding failure instead of standing out. As a result, well-established genres and formulas that have succeeded in the past are repeatedly reused.

The producer explained that this mindset prevents new ideas from having room to grow. Even more challenging or experimental works have value, as they help cultivate a more diverse and engaged audience. In the past, he said, there was a culture of watching more demanding films in independent theaters, which encouraged curiosity and discussion. Today, with the disappearance of these spaces, the overall audience experience has become more superficial.

During the interview, Maki also commented on the lack of real returns for creators, even when large companies invest significant amounts in promotional events such as AnimeJapan. According to him, this type of investment rarely reaches the people who actually create the works. This dissatisfaction was precisely what led him to co-found the Aichi-Nagoya International Animation Film Festival, which was designed from the start as an event closer to creators.

Another issue raised was the shortage of animators and the need to improve the direct relationship between creators and audiences. With the growth of streaming platforms, many professionals feel that their works become just another title in a massive catalog. Festivals, Maki argues, are important because they restore human contact, not only between fans and creators, but also among industry professionals themselves, strengthening collaborative networks.

When talking about the future, Maki advocated for a gradual shift in producers’ mindsets. He believes directors should be given more opportunities to experiment, even if the result is not an immediate commercial success. He also suggested that the industry could slightly reduce its reliance on manga adaptations and invest more in original projects and international collaborations.

Taro Maki’s production credits include In This Corner of the World, Millennium Actress, Kino’s Journey, Patlabor, PLUTO, and Serial Experiments Lain.