For many anime fans, a job in the industry they love so much is the ultimate fantasy. But while many fans dream about such a career, few pursue it as an actual goal.
During “Crunchyroll Presents - Working in the Anime Industry,” Crunchyroll brand managers Baker McDonald and Victoria Holden dispelled a few misconceptions people have about the industry, and suggested tips launching your own career in anime.
It’s not all anime all the time. Brand managers work long days managing social media, interacting with customers, working with Japanese publishers and providing detailed metrics to them on a weekly basis, and much, much more. “There are a lot of reasons we need to watch anime for work, but it’s far from the only thing we do,” Holden said.
“But I’m not qualified to work in anime.” Holden got her job after cosplaying as Tsunade from Naruto on a Web show. McDonald got his job after a degree in photography, a degree in culinary arts, and experience at Dow Jones. Neither are fluent in Japanese. But they both love what they do. “Passion about the position and the product is huge,” said McDonald.
Get to know people in the industry. Just like in other occupations, people like to work with people they already know and like. “The toughest part of the anime industry is hands down getting in,” said Holden. “But once you know someone, it’s much easier.”
Conventions are a lot of work. Did you know the Crunchyroll booth weighs 2,000 pounds? Brand management was responsible for figuring out how to ship it from headquarters in San Francisco to Boston. And once they got it there, they were on their feet 10 hours a day interacting with convention attendees. “It takes six of us to put out the booth and pack it up. Then we do it all over again a weekend later,” said McDonald.
Actually, everything’s a lot of work. “Because my job is also my hobby, I never turn off. I don’t think I’m ever not working,” said Holden, as McDonald agreed. Both spend long hours at the office each day, and since they attend multiple conventions each month, they obviously don’t always get weekends off.
But the fans make it worth it. Holden and McDonald both have jobs that let them interact with fans every day. You may have seen Holden’s silly tweets from the Crunchyroll Twitter account, or McDonald’s contests. “The best part of my job is telling somebody they won something like a laptop and seeing them flip out,” he said. “It feels really good.”
Pumped to get a job in anime? Why not try starting on the Crunchyroll Jobs Page? The managers concluded their panel by letting fans know they’re hiring now. “We’re looking for talented individuals passionate about anime and manga,” said Holden.
