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Erielle Sudario
Image via Crunchyroll
Following the announcement that anime streaming platform and production company Funimation would dissolve its brand and merge catalogs with Sony-owned subsidiary Crunchyroll, voice actors believe that the homogenized anime streaming service should pay them higher wages.
Several voice actors and localizers have now taken to Twitter to shed light on the low wages they receive for lending their talents to the projects that pay their bills.
— Edward Hong (@CinnabonMonster) March 2, 2022Now that the merge has happened, I challenge all the successful #anime dub #voiceover actors out there to call out @Funimation & @Crunchyroll that there needs to be more union dubs. They have the money to make it so.
(REMINDER: anime was a $24 billion industry in 2020 alone). pic.twitter.com/cvFexXgEDD
According to Sara Secora, who has worked withFunimation, voice actors currently receive $35-75 an hour to dub anime.
Lots of people outside the VO industry are arguing that they believe $35 to $75 an hour to dub anime is an incredible rate. Here's a thread as to why that rate is incredible low in terms of voice acting.
— Sara Secora (@SaraSecoraVO) March 2, 2022
Other voice actors like Stephanie Sheh and Ben Diskin are now calling for union rights, so that artists in the industry can earn benefits and healthcare.
Hey, @Funimation and @Crunchyroll! With the merger of your two platforms finally happening, please use the new 2021 Dubbing Agreement from @sagaftra. Union work is how we actors get healthcare and every job that goes union helps actors inch closer to qualification.
— Ben Diskin (@BenjaminDiskin) March 2, 2022
Now that @Funimation & @Crunchyroll are merging, can we get some union dubs?
— Stephanie Sheh (@stephaniesheh) March 1, 2022
Fans and other voice actors in the industry are showing support, but the problem extends beyond dubs. In an interview with Fuji TV in January 2021, Japanese voice actor Hochu Otsuka said that voice actors are paid through a base rate, before going on to reveal that they don’t get royalties when a show gets popular.
The salary stays the same. Even for behemoth works likeDemon Slayer, which is now the highest-grossing film in the Japanese box office ever, the payment is fixed and royalties aren’t paid out from the box office.
While the chances of unification are low, artists and fans are supporting the movement on social media, and some are even calling out for better pay for those working behind the scenes.
Funimation bought Crunchyroll for $1.17 billion back in 2021. Funimation has updated its FAQ since the merger to give out more information about what’s going to happen, advising subscribers to start signing up for Crunchyrollas soon as possible.
Update March 3 11:37am CT: This article has been updated to reflect that Sony’s Funimation Global Group acquired AT&T-owned Crunchyroll in 2021.
About the author
Erielle Sudario
Erielle Sudario is a Digital Producer for We Got This Covered. Outside of work, she's either DM'ing a 'Dungeons and Dragons' campaign, playing video games, or building keyboards. Erielle holds a Bachelor of Communications Degree (specializing in film and journalism) from Western Sydney University and a Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting from the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School.
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FAQs
Voice actors are calling out anime giant for low wages? ›
They have the money to make it so. According to Sara Secora, who has worked with Funimation, voice actors currently receive $35-75 an hour to dub anime.
Are anime voice actors underpaid? ›Crunchyroll voice actors have publicly complained of low pay. Funimation's 2021 anime film Jujutsu Kaisen 0 grossed well over $30 million in the United States, but the actors who voiced some of the characters say they were paid $150.
How much do anime voice actors get paid? ›However, this excludes extra fees such as agent commission and tax, and most anime voice actors get paid between $35 and $75 an hour as needed, while most voice dubbing actors get paid between $60 and $80 per hour.
What is the minimum wage for voice actor? ›As of May 21, 2023, the average hourly pay for a Voice Actor in the United States is $38.82 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $99.04 and as low as $6.49, the majority of Voice Actor wages currently range between $14.42 (25th percentile) to $50.96 (75th percentile) across the United States.
Why do anime artists get paid so little? ›The animation work is outsourced to countries like China, South Korea, and India. Those countries have much lower labor costs, so Japanese animation studios don't have to pay as much for their work. After all, full-time employees can be pretty expensive for companies to invest in (paid leave, 401K, etc).
How much did jujutsu Kaisen voice actors get paid? ›"... Jujutsu Kaisen's English voice actors were likely paid just $150 to $600 each, based on the going rate in the industry. That's not a per-hour rate. That's the total amount."
Is it hard to get into anime voice acting? ›Contrary to what most people believe, you don't need a super particular voice to get into anime. In fact, there are plenty of opportunities for people with regular voices! Is it hard to become an anime voice actor? No... but it does take hard work and a decent amount of time.
How much does funimation pay voice actors? ›What do Funimation voice actors earn. At present, Funimation voice actors earn non-union rates between $35-75. According to We got this covered, the payment for funimation voice acting is fixed. Nevertheless, the global anime market value is expected to reach a staggering $26.89 billion in 2022.
Do voice over actors make a lot of money? ›$80,736 is the average voice actor salary an experienced artist earns annually. $13,500 is the lowest amount paid annually to a voice actor. $206,000 is the highest amount paid annually to a voice actor. $30,000 to $106,000 is the average voice acting salary annual range in the United States.
How many hours do voice actors work? ›Four-plus hours per day: Most voice actors work for at least four hours a day, but time spent working can range from between a few hours and a full eight-hour day (or more), depending on the type and number of projects.
Do you need a degree to be a voice actor? ›
Do you need a degree to be a voice actor? No formal education is required to become a voice actor, but obtaining a degree from an acting college or university is one path to learning all of the skills you need in one place.
Do voice actors get royalties? ›How much voice actors make in a month or year is also determined by whether or not the actor joins a union. Union jobs typically pay royalties (or voice acting residuals), whereas nonunion jobs are more likely to pay one-time amounts. SAG-AFTRA is the union voice actors can join in the United States.
Which anime earned the most money? ›- 8 Sailor Moon.
- 7 One Piece.
- 6 Yu-Gi-Oh!
- 5 Gundam.
- 4 Dragon Ball.
- 3 Spirited Away.
- 2 Demon Slayer.
- 1 Pokémon.
The Japanese voice actor, Shōzō Iizuka, known for his roles in anime shows like Dragon Ball Z, Astro Boy, Mobile Suit Gundam, and more, has passed away at the age of 89. The late actor's agency, Sigma Seven, recently revealed that the beloved VA died on Feb. 15, 2023, as a result of acute heart failure.
How rich are Japanese voice actors? ›In the case of a new voice actor, even if it is the leading role or heroine role, it will start from 15,000 yen. And if the share of the office is deducted, it will be about 10,000 yen (US$97) by hand.
How much does it cost to make 1 EP of anime? ›It costs about $140,000 to $180,000 to make an anime episode, depending on the techniques used.
Why is making anime so expensive? ›Why is Animation so expensive to make? Creating animations is expensive because there is a lot of work going into creating it. Even if it is a very Simple Animation it still needs a lot of work.
Does anime make a lot of money? ›Anime brings in more than $19 billion a year.
How much did jujutsu Kaisen 0 make in the US? ›The film was released in the United States and Canada on March 18, 2022, and was projected to gross $8–13 million from 2,336 theaters in its opening weekend. It opened with $5.8 million from 2,297 theatres on Friday, including $2.9 million from Thursday-night preview screenings.
How much did Jujutsu Kaisen 0 make in America? ›| Area | Release Date | Gross |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Mar 18, 2022 | $34,542,754 |
How much did it cost to make jujutsu Kaisen 0? ›
The action thriller barely made a dent in its Rs 40 crore budget with less than Rs 1 crore in pre-sales. Another big banner film, Rocketry: The Nambi Effect, pooled in an estimated Rs 75 lakh in pre-sales. The film is written and directed by Madhavan, who also leads the cast.
Do anime voice actors cry? ›It's well known that a lot of Japanese voice actors have cried playing their characters role. Either because of an attachment to that character, because they felt the emotions, because of the manner of the characters death or simply because the character died. Same applies to actors in TV shows and movies.
Why is it so hard to become a voice actor? ›Voice-over artists need to network and build strong working relationships to land the right jobs as they build upon their skills. Heavy competition. Landing a job can be difficult because there is so much competition from aspiring, intermediate, and veteran talent.
Can anyone be good at voice acting? ›If you've already taken some voice acting or voice-over classes, then you are already on your way. But the truth is, almost anyone can learn how to voice act. All you need is a passion for acting, a desire to succeed, and the willingness to put in lots of practice.
How much does Disney pay for voice overs? ›A: Every voice-over project is different so there is no market standard as to how much a Disney voice-over actor makes. Some famous voice-over actors get paid more than beginners. The price could be 100$ for a small 15 seconds animation and it could go up to $10,000 for a voice-over role in an animated movie.
How much does the average voice actor get paid per session? ›Audio book voice-over rates for non-union voice actors typically range from $150 to $350 per finished hour (PFH) of audio. You can determine the estimated hours of finished audio by word count.
How much do voice actors get paid per episode? ›If you're providing voice over for cartoons and animation, the industry rates generally range from $100 for a short, 15-second animation, all the way up to $10,000 for the starring role in an animated short. You can expect even higher if you're cast to play the lead role in an animated feature film.
How much does a 1 minute voice over cost? ›Word count recording duration
0 – 1 minute with 150 words or less costs $50 – $200. 2 – 5 minutes with 150 – 750 words costs $200 – $350. 5 – 15 minutes with 750 – 2250 words costs $350 – $500.
It's been said that the top voice artists on one of the big P2Ps have - at best - about a 4% success rate. That means they're rejected for 96% of the work they audition for.
How much do Netflix voice over actors get paid? ›$13-$60/hr Netflix Voice Over - Voice Actors Jobs.
Can you live off of voice acting? ›
You should just get some training and invest in the proper equipment, all of which I'll cover in this article. Can you make a living as a voice actor? Absolutely. I'll cover annual salaries shortly, but most voice actors earn anywhere from $50-70k per year.
Do voice actors memorize their lines? ›When acting in front of a camera or on a stage, an actor must have the lines memorized. In voice over, however, one never has to take his or her eyes off the script.
Do voice actors get tired? ›Just like your legs can get tired from running, your voice can get tired when you use it for a long time. Our voice therapists recommend that for every 60 minutes of voice use, you need 10 minutes of voice rest.
Who hires voice actors? ›- Filmless. FIlmless hires freelance voice-over artists to record audio for video projects from clients ranging from large-scale to startup clients. ...
- Voices.com. ...
- Envato. ...
- Bunny Studio. ...
- Voice Crafters. ...
- Bodalgo. ...
- The Voice Realm. ...
- Mandy.
Who is the most famous voice actor? Mel Blanc remains one of the industry's best-known and respected voice actors because of his incredible ability to voice so many different cartoon characters. Since his death in 1989, no one else has been able to claim his title as 'the man with 1000 voices'.
How do you land a voice acting job? ›- Gain acting skills and experiences. Many voice actors begin their careers by learning to act on stage or in films. ...
- Consider vocal training workshops. ...
- Record voice-over demos. ...
- Audition for roles. ...
- Invest in a home studio and professional materials. ...
- Continue to hone your skills.
Voice actors pay taxes in the same way as any other self-employed individual. US Residents who are voice actors must report their earnings to the IRS, and accordingly pay taxes on a federal and state level, depending on where they reside.
How much does a dubbed voice actor get paid? ›Voice actors in America average $76,297 a year, but the range of salaries is wide—between $13,500 to $217,000, according to ZipRecruiter.
How much do voice actors make a week? ›As of May 26, 2023, the average weekly pay for a Voice Actor in the United States is $1,552 a week. While ZipRecruiter is seeing weekly wages as high as $3,962 and as low as $260, the majority of Voice Actor wages currently range between $576 (25th percentile) to $2,038 (75th percentile) across the United States.
Which anime broke the Internet? ›#1: Goku vs.
And that's precisely why the unforgettable awakening of Ultra Instinct had the fandom collectively losing their minds. The rocking track choice and slick animation add a hefty weight to a finale fight that quite literally caused the internet to short circuit.
What anime have won an Oscar? ›
Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece "Spirited Away," from Studio Ghibli, received the award.
What is the #1 anime movie? ›1) Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train.
Are the voice actors underpaid in jujutsu Kaisen? ›Fans are left enraged as Jujutsu Kaisen 0 dub voice actor receives a measly 150 USD for her role. The English dub voice actor who played Rika Orimoto's role, Anairis Quiñones, stated that she received only 150 USD and no residuals despite this movie's success. I was paid $150 total. No residuals or anything past that.
Do Japanese voice actors get paid a lot? ›It's still a lot to pay. Don't forget that your talent agency gets 20% of that money and the other 20% are withholding tax so, in the end, you get around 9000 – 10.000 yen per 30-minute episode. Around 80 euros or 90 dollars per episode is not much. And remember as well, you are a junior seiyuu.
Do voice actors make a lot of money? ›All things considered, the average voice actor can expect to earn about $6,358 a month or around $37 an hour. Aspiring voice actors should expect a lower monthly rate until they've established themselves as a credible, reliable talent.
How much did Jujutsu Kaisen 0 make in the US? ›The film was released in the United States and Canada on March 18, 2022, and was projected to gross $8–13 million from 2,336 theaters in its opening weekend. It opened with $5.8 million from 2,297 theatres on Friday, including $2.9 million from Thursday-night preview screenings.
Does Gojo's voice actor hate Gojo? ›During a recent interview overseas, Yuichi Nakamura broke down his view on Gojo when speaking with Oricon. It was there the veteran actor said he does not get the hype around Gojo, but that is because of a very specific reason. "I don't feel it.
What is the average salary in Japan? ›The average salary in Japan is 6,170,000 Japanese Yen (JPY) or 45,453 USD per year in 2023 (as per the exchange rate in May 2023). In this article, we'll explore further details surrounding the average salary in Japan and the factors that influence it.
Are voice actors respected in Japan? ›In the Western world, voice actors are generally regarded as a lesser performer class than "traditional actors." In Japan, however, voice actors are greeted with a level of fame and esteem their Western equivalents would probably kill for.
How much does Mila Kunis make per episode of Family Guy? ›How much does Mila Kunis make per episode? Having two hit shows under her belt, That '70s Show and Family Guy, Mila Kunis should be able to negotiate a pretty penny for her tv appearances. It has been estimated that she earns around $150,000 per episode of television that she appears in.
Which anime has the best voice acting? ›
- 8 Natsuki Hanae.
- 7 Akira Ishida.
- 6 Aoi Yuuki.
- 5 Maaya Sakamoto.
- 4 Daisuke Namikawa.
- 3 Yuki Kaji.
- 2 Mamoru Miyano.
- 1 Haruka Tomatsu.