Ghost in the Shell Director Calls for Better Anime Industry Conditions, Says Creators Shouldn’t Have to Endure Poverty

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex director Kenji Kamiyama has called for better financial conditions across Japan’s anime industry, stressing that creative talent should not have to live in poverty to continue producing animation. In an interview with Futaman ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya International Animation Film Festival, Kamiyama discussed the contrast between anime’s international popularity and the difficulties faced by production staff. Despite the industry’s expanding global market, studios continue to deal with labor shortages, increasing production expenses,…