Also thanks to the increasing distribution on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video, theJapanese anime industry in recent years it has gained more popularity than ever. However, success is not always positive and also brings controversy and criticism.
One of the latest controversies in the world of anime has ignited after aInterview by director Mamoru Oshii and carried out by the Japanese portal CINRA. On the occasion of his participation in the 2023 Niigata International Animated Film Festival, the director, very active in the ’70s, shared some of his opinions on the industry that many enthusiasts will find unquestionable.
Mamoru Oshii has divided the anime industry into two, one of which produces artistic works and the other commercial works. The former are usually made by individual artists or small groups who don’t think about commercial success, just disseminating their ideas. The latter, on the other hand, are made by quite a large number of teams and have large budgets behind them. THE High production costs greatly affect the content of projects, which as commercials have to entertain the audience. Basically, this category includes anime that includes beautiful girls, wars and robots, describing violent worlds full of eroticism. By the way, did you know that Ghost in the Shell’s Mamoru Oshii started an online course?
Despite this notion, the director doesn’t lump everything together and admits that Some commercial anime have messages to communicate and share content. For example, Oshii mentions Neon Genesis Evangelion, a well-respected work that, from his point of view, still has very commercial elements. But can a so-called artistic anime really be born without the goal of returning to production costs and without the goal of maximizing revenue? In your opinion, give us an example of what a commercial anime could be and an artistic one instead.
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