‘Bad Working Conditions and Very Low Wages’: Makoto Shinkai’s ‘Your Name’ Anime Studio President Talks Industry Changes

by

Tomohiro Tokunaga, head of CoMix Wave Films (known for films like “Your Name”, “Suzume” and “Weathering With You”), has shared insights about his role within the company, its growth trajectory, and his strategies for upcoming productions.

Initially, Tokunaga began his career in the anime sector through Telecom Animation Film, where he contributed to shows like “Lupin the Third: Part IV”, “Part V” and “Tower of God”. Then, in 2020, he moved to CoMix Wave Films as their Chief Producer. Since then, he has continued working at this studio and was recently appointed as President and CEO. Although his time with the studio is relatively new, Tokunaga has been part of the anime industry long enough to witness significant shifts within it. As discussed in a recent interview, these changes include adapting to work during the pandemic in 2020, as well as current efforts towards improved working conditions and wages within the industry.

‘Your Name’ Anime Studio President Has Advice for Industry Newcomers

When asked for advice about entering the anime industry, Tokunaga emphasized that the field has become more accepted and improved over time compared to when he first started in animation. He noted that nowadays, anime is a significant part of many people’s lives, and the industry is more accepted than it once was. Previously, there were numerous obstacles, but as times have evolved, so too has the industry. Now, it’s easier for newcomers to find opportunities in various studios if they approach with ambition, skills, and the willingness to work hard.

Tokunaga further delved into the unique approach of CoMix Wave Films in comparison to typical anime studios. Unlike many established studios that mainly work on external intellectual properties (IP) with the aim of creating a financially successful anime for all parties, especially the original IP holders, production fees often being their primary source of income, CoMix Wave Films was founded by its previous CEO, Noritaka Kawaguchi, with an aim to both pay production costs and create films using their own intellectual properties.

CoMix Wave Films Anime Studio Is Looking for the Next Makoto Shinkai

In this method, you can observe how CoMix Wave Films consistently partner with Makoto Shinkai. Typically, Shinkai develops unique, fresh content and intellectual properties first, which the studio then transforms into a movie. This production strategy has been effective for CoMix Wave Films, and Tokunaga aims to sustain this pattern moving forward. To achieve this goal, the studio is collaborating with various other directors and creators. As Tokunaga put it, “Shinkai-san initially began as an independent producer. Since history often repeats itself, I want to preserve that trend…” In reality, CoMix Wave Films is currently working with a novice director to discover new opportunities. Unfortunately, the details of this upcoming project have yet to be disclosed, and all Tokunaga could share was, “Keep an eye out for it.

The same approach for creating new intellectual properties was evident in the studio’s 2018 project, “Flavors of Youth,” which was a joint effort with various international team members, including directors Li Haoling and Joshua Yi. When questioned about further collaborations similar to “Flavors of Youth,” Tokunaga replied, “We haven’t decided yet if we will work with foreign directors in the future. A director who can generate as much income as he does with a single project is not common. However, it’s crucial to find other talented individuals to collaborate with. If one film earns 15 billion yen (approximately US$100 million) at the box office, I believe it would be acceptable to have three directors who can each generate 5 billion yen (approximately US$35 million). In this context, there might not be many directors capable of achieving a monumental success in the future. Nevertheless, I find it intriguing to consider working with foreign directors who consistently produce modest hits. It’s also possible that the next big success may not even be a Japanese director.

As per Tokunaga’s statement, the studio doesn’t show a strong bias towards Japanese directors and is open to collaborating with diverse talented individuals worldwide. He further mentioned that if an individual from abroad wishes to create Japanese animation in Japan, it would be ideal to communicate in Japanese. “Language embodies culture,” he said, “and we can effectively work with foreigners who embrace our culture and aspire to produce anime within Japan.

The latest project developed by CoMix Wave Films is currently Shinkai’s “Suzume,” which premiered in 2022. However, it’s worth noting that they were also involved in a production that debuted for Pokémon Day in the year 2025.

Read More

2025-04-24 17:39