Why was Demon Slayer Mangaka Paid 0.006% of Mugen Train Sales?

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the blockbuster anime movie of 2020, lured the people of Japan to theatres despite the pandemic. However, the minimal pay that Koyoharu Gotouge (Demon Slayer’s mangaka) has received is outrageous.

We all know that the movie has earned billions in Japan as well as in foreign countries.

Yet, why is the creator getting paid in pennies? Is this the case with all mangakas, or is she simply being mistreated? Let’s take a closer look into the matter.

Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, the movie, has earned a total of $298 million in Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. One might think that the series’s creator is rolling in dollars, but the reality is quite contrary. Gotouge was only paid a total of $19,208.

Why Was Gotouge Paid Less?

Mangakas are not paid a percentage of the movie or anime sales. Contrary to popular beliefs, they are only paid a limited license fee. The majority of the money goes to companies like Shueisha or Sunrise.

Gotouge is also a writer who has not been in the field for long. Demon Slayer is no doubt a mega-hit series, but it has only been around for four years. Four years is a short amount of time considering some series like Gintama, One Piece, or Dragon Ball.

Is The Payment The Same for Every Mangaka?

Hideaki Sorachi, the creator of Gintama, had spilt the beans on how the industry works in a previous interview. He had commented on how the license fee is the only thing paid to a mangaka.

A percentage of sales is not involved in the cheque. So even if the series breaks records at theatres, the creator can’t profit from it.

Shuichi Aso, the mangaka of The Disastrous Life of Saiki. K, also stated that not a single yen of royalties from the anime adaptation had been paid to him. Such is the harsh reality of the manga world.

The only reason the creators work till they fall ill is that they want their creations to touch fans’ hearts. The films and anime series also give a boost to manga sales, which can lead to profit for the authors.

How Do Mangakas Earn?

Mangakas who get their works published in magazines are tied by a contract and get paid by the page. However, the amount paid is kept a secret. The costs of the materials used aren’t covered either.

Royalties from volumes are where they can earn a bit. Of course, the royalties also vary depending on the sales, popularity, and how long the series has been around.

A percentage of merchandise sales is also paid to the creator. Although it is not a considerable amount, it is still more than what anime and movies pay.

What Is The Best Way To Support The Creator?

If you want to support your favorite mangaka, then the best thing to do is to buy manga volumes.

Some mangakas like Eiichiro Oda, Akira Toriyama, or Masashi Kishimoto might be earning fairly well. However, we must keep in mind that their series has been running for a long time, and they have also put a considerable amount of effort into it.

It is not advisable to judge the whole situation from just a handful of mangakas.

About Demon Slayer Kimetsu no Yaiba

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Koyoharu Gotoge.

Its publication in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump began in February 2016 with 19 collected tankōbon volumes released as of present.

In a world filled with demons and demon slayers, Kimetsu no Yaiba follows the lives of two siblings Tanjiro and Nezuko Kamado, after— the murder of their family at the hands of a demon.

Their hardship does not end there, as Nezuko’s life is spared only for her to live as a demon.

As the oldest sibling, Tanjiro vows to protect and cure his sister. The story traces the bond of this brother-sister or, better yet, demon slayer and demon combo against the odds of an arch antagonist and the society.

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