How Thai Animators Have Helped Japan's Anime Industry Posted Feb 9, 2023

Japan started producing animation in 1917 through trial-and-error drawing and cutout animation strategies. They created animated short films, and people loved the quality of Japanese production. The first Japanese animated television appeared on television in 1963. It was called Tetsuwan Atomu, and the show became an instant hit, starting an anime boom. Japanese anime has continued to garner the attention of worldwide audiences over the years.

Thai animators have played a crucial role in the growth of Japan’s anime industry, and their contributions cannot be ignored. In this article, we discuss how Thai animators helped propel Japan’s anime industry toward success.

Provision of Low-Cost Labor for Anime Production

Thailand has become a hub for animation outsourcing, with several animation studios and freelancers offering services to Japanese anime studios. This has been driven by various factors, including the lower labor costs in Thailand, the availability of skilled animators, and the development of infrastructure and technology to support animation production.

The cost of anime production in Japan is generally higher than in Thailand. This is primarily due to the higher labor costs in Japan and the higher costs of living and doing business in the country. Thus, the cost savings from outsourcing animation work to Thailand can be significant. Estimates show that animation production costs in Thailand are only around one-third of those in Japan.

This has made it possible for Japanese anime studios to produce high-quality animation while keeping production costs under control. Additionally, the quality of animation produced by Thai animators is often on par with that produced by Japanese animators, making it an attractive option for Japanese anime producers.

Skilled Thai Animators

The number of animation companies in Thailand has increased compared to ten years ago, when only a few names, such as Kantana, The Monk, and Imagimax, were popular. Thai animators are increasingly recognized worldwide for their talent. They have brought new techniques and strategies to the anime industry, which has helped to diversify the animation styles used in anime. Foreign companies have also set up shop in Thailand to tap into local resources.

Anime production companies in Japan frequently hire Thai animators to work on their anime films and manga series. Thai animators feature different topics in Japanese. Casino and gambling are often presented in Japanese anime. At thaicasinocenter.org you can even find Thai anime-themed casino games. These are usually traditional casino slot games that feature anime characters and bonus features.

The Growth of Anime in Thailand

Thailand’s government has played an important role in the growth of anime production in the country. When it comes to attracting foreign investment, the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) has paid special attention to the animation sector. Foreign enterprises that want to establish animation studios in Thailand might benefit from large tax advantages, expedited visa processing for their staff members, and assistance with networking with other Thai companies.

Most notably, there are generally restrictions on how much of a Thai company international corporations can own when they want to set up shop there. Depending on the industry, a certain proportion of the company must be Thai-owned. However, these restrictions have been lifted for the animation sector.

Thailand’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology established the Soft Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) in 2003 to promote the development of the game, software, and animation industry. SIPA actively supports Thailand's about 70 animation companies (the majority of which are small, employing fewer than 10 people), offering everything from training to business matchmaking services. One of their main objectives is to connect Thai animation studios with other Asian companies to establish connections that might help expand their businesses.

Education is another area where SIPA is focused. There are currently over 25 institutions in Thailand that provide animation programs, each of which graduates about 1,000 people a year. Thanks to SIPA investment, this number is increasing. The institutes also collaborate with the business community to ensure that the students are being trained in the latest techniques to acquire the right skills. Thus, Japanese anime production companies can continue to rely on the talented pool of Thai animators in the future.

Final Thoughts

Thai animators have helped Japan's anime industry by providing lower-cost labor for animation production. Many animation studios in Thailand have partnered with Japanese studios to outsource animation work, such as key animation and in-between animation. This allows Japanese studios to reduce their costs and produce anime at a faster pace. Additionally, Thai animators have also been credited with bringing new styles and techniques to the anime industry, which has helped to diversify the animation styles used in anime.