Concerning the Anime Directing Method for Limiting the Quantity of Drawings to 3500 Sheets per Each Episode of a TV Series in Toei Animation Studio Co. Ltd.: the Director Is Responsible for Limiting the Issue of Quantity Rather Than the Animator.
In 1984, Toei Animation Studio Co., Ltd. began to limit the use of drawing paper to 3500 sheets per TV program. In order to reduce costs, other studio, such Tatsunoko Production Co., Ltd. and Sunrise Inc. instituted similar measures. An unexpected result of these restrictions was the advancement of Japan’s unique anime style of visual presentation. Based on documents and the experiences of directors and animators of the time, this paper will discuss how a move to conserve resources resulted in artistic evolution of Japanese anime.