Tear Jerker / Shirobako

• The series begins with an understated Downer Beginning, where several years after producing an anime film together in high school, the girls are far from achieving their goals. Aoi's job often amounts to being a gofer while Ema is barely earning a living as an animator and they're the ones who actually have jobs in the industry. Meanwhile, Shizuka is struggling to get acting roles, Misa is working for a company that wants nothing to do with anime, and Midori is still in college.
• Kinoshita's backstory, in which the failure of Jiggly Jiggly Heaven ruined his reputation. That, combined with his wife divorcing him, results in his abysmal self-confidence.
• After Segawa criticizes Ema's rushed work on her cuts, Ema begins to worry that she's a failure as an animator who will never make a living.
• In Episode 22, Shizuka watches an interview by a younger actress, who debuted in high school, complaining about the way her job inconveniences her, and bitterly notes that she wishes she could switch places with her.
• Also from Episode 22, Hiraoka's past is shown, with his passion for the anime industry being ground down by abusive coworkers, uncooperative freelancers and a generally poor work atmosphere. This, combined with his trouble at his current job at MusAni causes Hiraoka to think of himself as a failure and contemplate resigning after the end of their current show.
• In the movie, the fact that the failure of Time Hippo devastated MusAni, resulting in many staffers quitting and forcing Marukawa to resign in disgrace to take responsibility.