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Tonari Animation Studio Closes After 4 Years, Marked by Controversies

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Tonari Animation Studio Closes After 4 Years, Marked by Controversies

Tonari Animation, a US-Based Animation Outsourcing Studio, Closes After Four Years of Operation Tonari Animation, founded by Jarrett Martin in 2019 as a sole proprietorship and incorporated in 2020, has announced its closure after four years of operation.

According to the studio, its mission was to make Japanese anime production more accessible to English-speaking creators while advocating for better working conditions for animators. However, financial struggles and market challenges have forced the company to shut down.

Tonari Animation Studio Closes After 4 Years, Marked by Controversies

In an official statement on Twitter, Tonari Animation cited several main reasons for its closure:

Tonari Animation Studio Closes After 4 Years, Marked by Controversies

  • The devaluation of the Japanese yen.
  • Increased competition from companies offering lower prices.
  • A shrinking market share.
  • Difficulty in securing essential partnerships or funding to sustain the company.

Despite the challenges, Tonari Animation contributed to over 80 productions, created opportunities for hundreds of creators, and reduced barriers for English-speaking animators seeking to enter the Japanese anime industry. However, changes in the animation landscape have diminished the need for the studio’s original mission.

Jarrett Martin’s Transition

Jarrett Martin, the founder of Tonari Animation, announced that he will remain active in the anime industry as Creative Director of Creative Freaks. He plans to establish the Sakuga Division within the company, applying the lessons learned at Tonari to support Japanese animation in a more sustainable way.

Effective immediately, Tonari Animation’s official accounts will undergo rebranding under Creative Freaks.

Controversies Surrounding Tonari Animation

Despite the narrative in its official statement, Tonari Animation and its founder, Jarrett Martin, are widely known for a series of controversies, including:

  • Launching and later canceling an NFT-based anime project.
  • Supporting the creative use of AI and selling NFTs.
  • Starting a GoFundMe campaign for an anime production guide, which was later canceled and turned into a wiki.
  • Criticizing low salaries for production assistants while offering below-average wages for their own positions.

Estúdio Tonari Animation Encerra Operações após 4 anos, Marcada por Controvérsias

  • Offering job positions with wages lower than those of convenience stores.
  • Allegations of using alternate accounts on Twitter to harass others.
  • Reports of a $200,000 tax debt owed to the IRS.
  • Selling a $1,000 course on Japanese anime production know-how, which raised concerns among critics.
  • Criticizing the founder of Studio Bibury, telling him to “learn how reality works” after the Bibury founder advocated for better working conditions.
  • Allegedly discouraging the hiring of foreign animators despite being a foreigner himself.

Jarrett Martin also faced criticism for negative comments on emotional posts by creators from other studios, further adding to the controversies surrounding the company.

Normally, when news of an anime studio closure arises, fans express sadness over the loss. However, in this case, the reactions have been celebratory due to the numerous controversies involving the studio and its founder.

via Você Sabia Anime