The production process forYAIBA: Samurai Legend,a new anime that debuted in April 2025, has been rife with struggles despite fans' positive reception towards the anime itself. One freelance animator in particular,Kyohei Ebata, has spoken out about the issues he faced while animating for the series.
Ebata recently experienced a sudden pay cut while working onYAIBA,leading him totake to Xto post about his negative experience as an animator on the show. Despite the risks to his career, Ebata initially felt it was his duty to “expose everything once this project is finished,partly as a warning to others.”
A YAIBA Animator Started a Discussion About a Supposed Undeserved Pay Cut
Ebata Claims the Pay Reduction Was Due to a Misunderstanding Regarding Highlight Color Changes
At first, Ebata believed thatYAIBAproducer “P” was responsible for the decision, and uploaded a series of X posts chronicling his frustration with the choice. The pay decrease came about because members of the team became concerned that Ebata was outsourcing his tasks to someone else because of a shift in the artistic style of his work.
Ebata fervently denies these claims, stating that the color differences compared to his past animation are a result of a creative choice, not evidence of foul play. He even suggested those investigating the matter might “compare my artistic habits with other episodes, or even trace the IP address from the submitted files,” to prove his innocence.
Ultimately though, Ebata’s pay shrank, sparking him to continue expressing his disappointment with the choice. Ebata is certainly not the first freelance animator to deal with an incident like this,as overworked animators at MAPPA and other studiosare increasingly raising concerns about toxic workplace environments and meager pay.
Ebata Posted an Update That He and the Company Have “Reached a Resolution”
He Also Noted That Producer “P” Was Not Actually to Blame For the Decision to Cut His Pay
The most recent update, posted on July 20, urges those following the situation not to “slander any of the involved parties,” because Ebata is satisfied with the outcome after further discussion between himself and the company. Kyohei Ebata is a hardworkinganimator who worked on hits likeBoruto,so it is fortunate that the problem was made right.
Ebata’s recent X postreads: “In regards to the situation posted about the other day. Today, I would like to note that I have spoken with all the relevant parties and reached a resolution. As it turns out, the person who decided to reduce my pay was not the person mentioned before. Please do not slander any of the involved parties. More details will be formally shared at a later time.”
Although this particular incident was resolved, Ebata’s alleged mistreatment contributes to a larger, important conversation about the poor conditions animators often face. These professionals represent the backbone of the anime industry, bringing the series' fans love to life through their artistry, and they deserve admiration and adequate pay for their craft.
Hopefully, as more animators like Ebata show the courage to speak out about improper treatment, a shift will occur. With this development, a supportive environment in which all artists are given the respect they deserve can be built, which willimprove the entire anime industry’s work conditionsfor everyone.
