Animators were paid bottom rate on a recent Japanese production for Netflix, according to Ippei Ichii. The animator and storyboard artist took to Twitter to condemn the streaming giant, claiming that artists working on a Netflix show at Tokyo studio Mappa were paid as little as 3,800 (USD$34) per cut.
In an initial tweet, Ichii wrote in Japanese:
Apparently a producer working on a Mappa production for Netflix has suggested that the unit price be 3,800 yen per cut. Tv series are budgeted to 3,800–7,000 yen, and if animators accept this, their unit price goes down on the whole. Note: if you’re asked, I think it’s best to negotiate for at least 15,000 yen.
[Note: in the anime industry it is common for animators to be paid by the cut, i.e. shot.]