Anime voice acting used to be a job that afforded one a pretty high level of privacy and anonymity. Increasingly, though, to really succeed in the industry Japanese voice actors have to make themselves accessible to the fan community through video messages, public appearances, social media, and other ways to promote a personal brand that brings attention and interest to their roles and the series they’re part of.
But while anime itself is famously comfortable with sexualized content, that doesn’t mean that same acceptance extends to the individuals voicing its characters. Similar to the situation for idol singers, the most extreme bloc of anime fandom, which also provides an immense amount of the industry’s financial support, often wants to believe that its favorite voice actresses are living chaste lives devoted solely to perfecting their craft and pleasing their fans.
Recently, Emi Nitta, the voice of "Love Live!" protagonist Honoka, has been dogged by rumors that she appeared in an adult video prior to being cast in the tremendously popular anime franchise. While her talent agency has vehemently denied that she did any such thing, the situation has served as a reminder about how quickly the infatuation of the most obsessive and lucrative portion of a voice actress’ fan base can vanish. Apparently, the situation has at least one company so on edge that it’s taking preemptive action to avoid such a scenario.
Talent agency Walkure is looking to sign a crop of new voice/vocal performers looking for work in the anime, video game, idol, and pachinko machine sectors. It’s even holding auditions in Tokyo on May 14. Looking over the information on the event’s website, among the conditions applicants have to meet are provisions both legal and practical. For example, applicants must not be currently under contract with a competing agency, and must be willing to relocate or commute to the Tokyo area, where the majority of their work-related activities will be carried out.
But the list also includes this: “We reserve the right to reject applicants involved in illegal activities, or who have been engaged in adult videos or modeling.”
It’s especially noteworthy that while the exact wording shuts the talent agency’s door on those who are currently breaking the law, there’s no chance for redemption if you’ve been part of any pornography, even if you’re no longer in that line of business.
In Walkure’s defense, the very fans it’s trying to avoid upsetting aren’t exactly known for their understanding, forgiving nature. With no statute of limitations likely from the group it’s counting on to pay so many of its bills, including performers’ salaries, the agency seems to think it has no choice but to say that if pornographic work is a part of your past, you’re not part of Walkure’s future.
Source: Walkure via Hachima Kiko
Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Anime voice actress arrested for suspected cocaine possession, has name scrubbed from series cast -- Anime voice actress launching new web series on the wonderful world of sake -- The “doya-gao” phenomenon and where you’re most likely to see it
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18 Comments
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nath
How will the Anime agency know if the girl has done porn? Watch every one made to identify the woman? There 60,000 I heard in porn industry in Japan and many only did one movie. Besides all they do is make that stupid noise,not much talking.
goldorak
Oh the irony! A woman who may have appeared in an adult porn is too 'deviant' to be the voice of a 12-14yo sexualised anime character? Right
That's what happens when there is no or only few anti discrimination laws in the workplace.
gokai_wo_maneku
I don't understand that. That has never been a problem in the past. Produces loved it when an AV girl decided to "go straight" because a fan base of millions of men would follow her. Like Ai Iijima. Doesn't the anime industry realize this?
Wc626
Who cares? They all cry the same way in every porno or anime flick.
GW
Let me get this straight you cant to porn(anime type) if you have done REAL LIFE porn.................hahaha that's hilarious & bizarre!!!
smithinjapan
Hahaha... So, these ridiculously chesty elementary school girls who bend over all red-faced and in short skirts can't be played by people who MAY have done a couple of amateur porn films? how about if it's Sora Aoi, the porn actress turned 'chaste talento'? The double standards and stupidity of this is astounding.
nath
... so, how many " extreme anime fans" were interviewed to ascertain the validity of the statement that they "often wants to believe that its favorite voice actresses are living chaste lives devoted solely to perfecting their craft and pleasing their fans"?
kurisupisu
They'll be reserving voice overs for virgins next!
Who gives a toss...!
Tim_Fox
The article implies working in the AV industry is "breaking the law." This is a false claim.
DarkKnghtZ
@Tim_Fox: Explain that. how does "being involved with illegal activites >OR< who have done adult work" imply one is the same as the other.
One protects the company from being associated with criminals, which I think all companies would like. The other is to prevent the possibility of the legions of akibake from dumping one of their products because their favorite character isn't what they thought she was.
Like it or not, this AKB "we don't know what a penis looks like" image sells millions. Its childish and stupid, but that's the beauty of a free market. If people are willing to pay for it, someone will supply it. These customers want the AKB type voices, so the company will either supply it and make money, or give them something else and risk losing it all.
CH3CHO
I think, in any show business, appearance in porn is a scandal. Isn't it so in America or Europe?
dagon
Like many phenomena in Japan recently, It is a perfect storm of a market of infantalized eunuchs and unfettered corporatism.
Updoot
Customer is always right, right? If the customers want the voice actresses to be porn free, (while it may seem strange to most) then that's how the companies will work if they want to continue to bring in the cash.
1glenn
What's next? Will the porn industry refuse to hire people who have done voice-overs in anime porn? Oh! The shame!
goldorak
All employers who do not explicitly say "former porn stars need not apply" in their job posting should be legally obligated to hire the former porn star.
enough is enough!
Liam Baka
what kind of ridiculous rule is this? I mean, I love ecchi anime, hot girls with nice big tits and asses and not much clothing are nice, but I like these ecchi harem comedies because I am a pervert As such I also like porn XD 95% of what I watch is cosplay porn with characters from anime I like. XD I would love if the same voice actress who played the character would be in something like that, not only can I watch a hot character I like get (gang)banged like I already can now, but she would actually have the same voice and stuff. XD All the many perverted anime-lover girls and boys I count amongst my friends would think the same way I am sure - practically all of them like this stuff as well. So I don't get the logic.
TLDR version: I understand this for clean slice of life or kids etc. anime, but for voice actors who are gonna do ecchi harems and stuff would this not be a huge pluss for the target audience? We're pervy that's why we like it! Plus off course if you want to voice shows like to love ru and such, the voice actors who like doing shows like that are probably kind of pervs themselves anyway so there is a higher then average chance allready they made some porn once for fun. I know I would like both of those things just for the lols once, and I know quite some perverted girls who I think would too.
I don't get it . At all. :-/
Patrick Kimura-Macke
Many Japan Today comments seem to be from people very familiar with Japanese pornography. (?)