

In nearly all anime these days, there's an artist illustration at the very end
of an anime episode.

How do the productions get illustrators to do the end cards? Are they paid for
it (if so, how much)?

How and why did this practice start?

![Dat star~](https://i.stack.imgur.com/UscZJ.jpg)


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2013-06-30T23:30:47.333
4264
2014-01-18T17:16:44.473
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question
anime-production
How do anime productions arrange for artists to do the end card illustrations?


There isn't just 1 reason, but could be several:

  * **Plot Compression** : this could be either a cause or a consequence. They compress the plot too much and they get forced to "fill" the extra seconds of air time.
  * **Partneship** / **Sponsorship** : Some partner or sponsor could ask for extra time of the anime air time (Squarenix in FMA comes to mind) at the end of the episode or after the opening. This could also branch to promotion of other works of the same or different production house or some artist ([as Logan commented](https://anime.stackexchange.com/questions/4264/how-do-anime-productions-arrange-for-artists-to-do-the-end-card-illustrations#comment3537_4264)).
  * **Promotional products** : they could use this time to promote any "collections" product for hardcore fans or another version of the same franchise (like the Anime promoting the new Manga or L/N).

Any other reason is a mix of the previous three, but these are the main
possible causes.


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2013-11-13T20:16:47.707
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2013-11-19T15:40:41.043
2017-04-13T12:54:49.117
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answer