Is this a case of “Ask, and ye shall receive” for the crew of the latest over-the-top ecchi series Onimai?
The worst-kept secret of the anime industry is that production studios are often understaffed and overworked. With so many time slots to fill with that sweet, sweet animation we all love, every studio has felt the crunch over the last couple of decades.
Once upon a time, fans weren’t entirely as sympathetic to the plight as they are now for said working conditions coming to light more and more over the last few years, but with no way to directly support their favorite creators (studios are, for the most part, contractors who get paid a set amount for each series they produce rather than receive royalties on home video and merchandise sales) fans were left with no choice but to watch from afar as some of their favorite studios fell into debt and eventually declared bankruptcy (we miss you Manglobe). Recently, however, a feel-good story hit the news wires of fans finally being able to directly help a fledgling studio. And it was even treated to messages of gratitude for their trouble.
紅葉饅頭さんから差し入れを頂きました。ありがとうございます。
以前メールで「アニメ会社に直接支援する方法はないのですか？」と聞かれたので、
スタジオバインドおにまい班宛の欲しいものリストを作ってみました。もしよろしければ。
新人や制作が喜ぶと思います。https://t.co/Ykl2P3ALLT pic.twitter.com/Ke5E09txgU— 藤井慎吾@おにまい監督中 (@monsuun) January 27, 2023
In the original tweet above, the director of the previously mentioned series Onimai, Shingo Fujii, wrote that he had received an email asking how fans can help support him and his team. He answered by posting an Amazon Wish List on Twitter. I don’t think that Fujii expected this outcome, though!
予想以上の支援物資、本当にありがとうございました。
皆で大切に食べさせて頂きます……！ pic.twitter.com/1tpxX83Y98— 藤井慎吾@おにまい監督中 (@monsuun) January 30, 2023
In a follow-up tweet, Fujii posted just some of the supplies and food adoring fans from around the world sent to the studio. Overwhelmed by the response, the director stated the crew would eat the food carefully.
Onimai is the directorial debut for Fujii and only the second series (after Jobless Reincarnation) that is primarily produced by Studio Bind. While some might look down on the director for posting an Amazon Wish List and taking handouts from fans, I will not be one of them. Being a young animation studio in Japan is hard right now. If these donations from around the world mean they can stay in business a little longer and maybe produce the next big hit series, then more power to them!
Source: Anime News Network
