:: Introduction of anime production :: »Planning-2 Let's talk about GenAn(*1) proposal first. Not many animation companies have sufficient financial resources to make an animated film alone (no matter if it's and OVA or TV series, not to mention a movie).The most important process to make our animators proposal come true is to present it to sponsors(*2)read: production companies or entertainment companies. It is rare for anime companies in Japan to make pilot films since there is insufficient budget (even though we know that the visual effect of a pilot film is much convincing to investors). Animation companies usually present their proposal in paper form. Sometimes the rough script(*3) will attached to the proposal since it's better to let our sponsors get an idea of the story or the world-view we want to present to our audience. Therefore it is possible that the script is already present before any actual production work. If the sponsors reject the proposal because they think that it's not attractive enough for the market, it will be difficult for the proposal to see the sunlight again. Who presents the proposal to the sponsors? These usually are the executive or senior animation producers(*4) in at the animation studios. Sometimes animators(*5) or directors(*6) will talk to sponsors directly but this only happens with animators/directors who have a certain reputation in the anime world. Still, most animators/directors prefer to ask producers to do the tedious business negotiation work. Often Gensaku(comics(*7) or novels(*8))are luckier compared to GenAn. Comics/novels already have a certain customer base and enough sales records to attract sponsors. Popular comic artists or novelists don't have to visit sponsors, instead sponsors will come knocking on their doors. In the case of comics/novels, the proposal presenters will be producers in entertainment companies or production companies(*9). As with animators and directors, comic artists and novelists hardly do the business talks by themselves. They tend to ask their agents to deal with the negotiation. As you may already know, there are lots of meetings during the planning period. Animators/directors present their ideas to producers in the studio, producers present them to sponsors, sponsors go through their internal meeting(s),...on and on and on it goes between the creators and sponsors. That is why the essential requirements to be a good producer are excellent negotiation skills and iron nerves. It will take few months to years until the animation production companies actually start the drawing, inking and painting work. After all, we are talking about a substantial amount of money and risk that a normal individual usually can not afford. We will talk about budgeting an animated film in the next chapter. »»Next: Budgeting (*)Terms in Japanese *1 Genan =Original concept/story/script *2 Sponsors = As you can see in our Business Associates in Japan on our links page. Traditionally, animation production company are just a subcontractor for production company to make animation work. The animation production to propose original animation ideas to production company are happened in last 10~20 years. *3 Script = =ShiNaRiO, SuKuRiPuTo, KyaKuHon *4 Executive or senior animation producers = =KiKaKu *5 Animator ==ANiMe-Ta- *6 Director = =KanToKu *7 Comic = =ManGa *8 Novels = =ShouSeTu *9 Refer to our Business Associates in Japan on link pages © AIC. All rights reserved. We welcome you to contact us if you have any question toward this website. If your questions are related to our anime work, please send your question by e-mail to here.	Index Planning-1 (2003-07-01) Planning-2 (2003-07-11) Budgeting (2003-07-31) Scenario (2003-08-28) Director (2003-12-18) Character designer (2004-06-03) Storyboard, storyboard artist and episode director (2004-07-01)