As the spotlight on anime’s labor practices intensifies, an animator has spoken out against the work environment at one of Japan’s most acclaimed studios.
Joan Chung worked at Science Saru, the company behind Devilman Crybaby, Ride Your Wave, and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, from December 2019 to June 2021. Prior to that, she was at Titmouse Vancouver. In an interview with Anime News Network, the animator said the studio took on too many projects at once, resulting in heavy burdens on staff.
Chung, who mostly worked on Disney+’s forthcoming Star Wars: Visions and as-yet-unannounced projects at Science Saru, says the studio’s culture was welcoming to begin with. International staff were given lessons in Japanese and a colleague taught her how to skate. She has no bad words for any one person.