Go Tokyo Your Experience
In Japan, the profession of “voice actor” initially referred specifically to those who dub for film and television works. As the name suggests, they make a living through their expressive voice, so their appearance is not considered a necessary condition for their work. However, the voice actor industry is gradually ushering in a trend of “idolization”. Not only do male voice actors need to be handsome and female voice actors need to be beautiful, but they also need to have singing and dancing abilities in order to attract audiences on stage.
Recently, a Japanese manga artist expressed concern about this and questioned whether manga artists will also need to focus on appearance and performance in order to make a living in the future. Let’s take a look at the views of Japanese netizens on this concern
Japanese internet manga artist 255 (Nikoko) posted on X (formerly Twitter) expressing concerns that the manga industry may follow in the footsteps of voice actors and become idolized in the future.
Looking back, people used to lament, ‘Nowadays, voice actors not only need to be able to dance, but also pay attention to their appearance. It’s really not easy.’ Now that many years have passed, this trend is becoming increasingly evident255 stated in the article.
He continued to write:Recently, I suddenly realized that we cannot completely deny that manga artists will also be swallowed up by this wave. In the future, there may be voices like: ‘Cartoonists who cannot sing are too outdated.’ ‘Why should I support older manga artists?’ ‘Cartoonists should at least be able to live stream games or improve their ability to chat…’
Japanese voice actors have become completely ‘idolized’!
The statement made by 255 has sparked numerous discussions. Japanese netizens have different opinions on his concerns.
It’s not just comics. Nowadays, there is more supply than demand for entertainment works, so the variety and likability displayed by the authors themselves have become even more important. Otherwise, no one would want to watch their worksA netizen commented.
Another netizen pointed out:Especially for manga artists or artists who come from the fan community, it has become common for them to express themselves as interesting online and transform themselves into a part of their work, so this concern has come too late
Some netizens also mentioned real-life examples:Modern novelists often publicly display their photos in bookstores, as if they can’t sell their books without showing their faces
Some people also point out the opposite viewpoint:In the past, famous cartoonists often appeared on various TV programs. Nowadays, they don’t show up and even use pen names instead of disclosing their real names
Some netizens believe that manga artists who are busy serializing weekly magazines simply do not have time to practice these additional skills. Similarly, there are not as many screenwriters and directors required in the anime industry.
Another netizen mentioned:Nowadays, I think only people with good personalities can become manga artists
It is worth noting that some manga artists have developed towards diversification, such as simultaneously engaging in composition, 3D modeling, 3D modeling, or game live streaming. Therefore, in the creative world, slash (crossover) professions seem to have become a common phenomenon.
However, there are also voices suggesting that if cartoonists are required to master many additional skills, it may cause them to miss the deadline and thus affect the output of their works.
If every industry demands skills such as appearance, conversation skills, and variety show performance, it will really become very painful. There are too many requirements that need to be met
Will all future manga tankoboes need to include a personal photo of the manga artist?
Through this discussion, it can be seen that the evolution of the industry has put forward more diverse requirements for creators, and also reflects subtle changes in market demand. This trend will undoubtedly continue to attract attention and reflection in the future.