Twitter account “hexagonal hill” sparked a social media frenzy by sharing an intriguing job offer from the studios MAPPAheadquartered in Tokyo, Japan. This offer caused an uproar due to its unusual nature and the implications it brought with it.

What initially seemed like a call for aspiring animators from the renowned animation company actually turned out to be a job opportunity for management roles within the company.

While this could have been a simple misunderstanding, the fact that user “Hexagon Hill” left out this crucial detail has given rise to a number of misinterpretations.

This job posting, aimed at people with no previous experience in the entertainment industry, caught people's attention for its focus on versatility and willingness to adapt to a variety of responsibilities.

The main requirement is the ability to use office software such as Word and Excel, along with the ability to face any challenge that comes your way.

The exact roles listed in the offer cover a wide range of tasks, from preparing manuals and managing teams to collecting materials and assisting with pre-production projects.

Additionally, the selected candidate will also provide support in interdepartmental communication and service management, as well as in the preparation and aggregation of budgets for each production. The offer also highlights the importance of controlling invoices, managing the work of contracted entertainers and supporting organizational management, among other responsibilities.

Perhaps one of the highlights of this offer is the salary mentioned. With a monthly salary exceeding 240,000 yen (approximately $ 1,650) and with 37,985 yen corresponding to twenty hours of overtime included, the base salary is set at 202,105 yen (approximately $ 1,390).

These numbers are impressive as they are above the average entry-level job fee in Japan, which is 206,250 yen.

An interesting feature of this salary is that the mentioned overtime is guaranteed even if you don't show up for work (although they always force you to work, obviously).

In the event of exceeding the monthly overtime limit, each additional hour worked is compensated.

This salary is considered one of the highest in the anime industry in Japan, second only to those offered by Toei Animation and TMS Entertainment.

However, an important question arises: is this salary enough to live comfortably in Tokyo? While these numbers may seem tempting, the reality is that the cost of living in the Japanese metropolis is considerable.

For comparison, the salary offered by CloverWorks, another animation company, is 219,000 yen per month (just over US$1,500), and that includes almost twice as much overtime.

One of the main concerns raised on social media is whether the same salary will be offered to newly hired animators. Will they be offered more? Will they be offered less? Will the agreed overtime be higher? Or will it be lower?

Since the offer is for those interested in management, the relationship between these two labor groups became a topic of discussion. It is essential to consider that overtime is an integral part of this salary, even if it is not worked.

If this limit is exceeded, the extra hours worked are financially rewarded (or so it is assumed, Japanese workers often end up working overtime without pay, which they call “free overtime”).

If you've watched the first episode of Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead, you probably know what we mean.

That said, this offer raises a number of questions. Is this salary competitive in the anime industry? How does it affect those who do not have a college degree and have a technical background?

Salary variation based on education and experience is a reality, with university graduates receiving the maximum salary mentioned, while those with technical or secondary education (which is the case for most animators) will have their monthly salary reduced.

In conclusion, the job offer from MAPPA studios has sparked a debate on social media about the anime industry in Japan.

The discussions range from the suitability of the proposed salary, its comparison with other animation companies and the feasibility of living in Tokyo with this income. Questions about livelihood in the Japanese capital and the ability to support a family are central themes in these online discussions.

Source: @HexagonHill on Twitter