The anime industry struggles with low profits, tight budgets, and studios taking on any work just to stay afloat. In contrast, Kyoto Animation lives the dream as one of the few financially stable and independently run studios. It achieves this through high quality animation, creative freedom for artists, and profitability from merchandise, novels, and self-publishing in addition to television series. Their success is attributed to believable character-driven stories, visceral visual experiences, salaries over pay-per-cut, and an in-house approach to production that has built a loyal fanbase and strong brand over the past 30+ years.

2. 1.
A Struggling Industry
The problems plaguing studios for decades

3. The
Problem
▪ Anime not very profitable
▪ Budget and time constraints
▪ Studios contract whatever pays the bills

4. The
Problem
▪ Anime not very profitable
▪ Budget and time constraints
▪ Studios contract whatever pays the bills
Studios struggle to break even,
And animators can’t follow artistic visions.

5. Kyoto Animation
LIVES THE DREAM
▪ Beautiful art and animation
▪ Creative Freedom
▪ Self-sustainable and independent

6. 2.
A Brief History
From 1981 to the present

7. 1981
Founded as subsidiary of
Mushi Production
1981
Founded

8. 2003
First full production “Munto”
lands a deal with Kadokawa
1981
Founded
2003
Kadokawa
partnership

9. 2007
“Lucky Star” airs,
Becomes huge hit
1981
Founded
2003
Kadokawa
partnership
2003
“Lucky Star”
phenomena

10. 2009
Annual KyoAni Award contest begins
1981
Founded
2003
Kadokawa
partnership
2003
“Lucky Star”
phenomena
2003
Annual
KyoAni
Contest

11. 3.
Business Model
How KyoAni makes money

12. Business
Model
Blu Rays / DVDs
Published novels / comics
Animation books
Figurines, posters, etc.

13. 4.
Financials
Does KyoAni make money?

14. Does KyoAni
make money?
Yes,
a lot!

15. $19 millionRevenue
100%All TV series broke even or better
$1.3 millionNet profit
(2014)

16. 5.
Secret Sauce
What makes KyoAni so special

17. The KyoAni
Touch
Show, don’t tell
Believable characters
Visceral experiences

18. The KyoAni
Way
One show at a time
Salaries, not pay per cut
Do everything in-house

19. The KyoAni
Brand
KyoAni animation school
KyoAni store
Publisher and content
acquirer

20. 6.
Competition
Mover or Milker?

21. KyoAni is a
MOVER
▪ Animation is years ahead of its time
▪ Employs new techniques
▪ Adaptations improve on the source material

22. Competing
Anime Studios

23. Perceptual
Map
Memorable
Story
Beautiful
Animation

24. 7.
Prediction
Succeed or Fail?

25. Future:
SUCCESS
Great
reputation
and fanbase
Financial
stability and
independence
Tight-knit team
with future
talent available

26. Thank you!!
Any questions?
Adriel Leung
(aaleung)

27. References
http://goboiano.com/heres-money-actually-made-anime/
https://ultimatemegax.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/kyoto-
animation-and-their-evolution-march-2015-ver/
http://www.kyotoanimation.co.jp/
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2015-12-02/what-
makes-kyoto-animation-so-special/.95559