National university to set up anime graduate course

by Crisu
Dec 6, 2007 1:13 AM | 12 Comments

Source: Daily Yomiuri Online

Ever wanted a Master's degree in anime? Well...

Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music will establish an animation major course at the Graduate School of Film and New Media in Yokohama from April to nurture young artists in the field of animation, which is popular overseas and an influential element of Japanese culture.

Okay, so it's not really anime but animation ... which is still really cool. I predict students will be studying a lot of storyboarding techniques and art styles, including cel-shading or mixing in CG or other wonderful things we're seeing in anime series today.

Maybe these first graduates will become the newest animation directors or storyboard directors. Only sixteen students annually, the article says. Though I can imagine they'll have hundreds of applications.

12 Comments Recent Comments

...Wow.

Its funny because you guys have no idea what goes into learning to be an animator. Its fun if you really love it, its also a bitch.

And the fact that you guys are freaking out about an 'anime degree' when it is just a degree in animation at a more prestigious school in Japan. Yes it is exciting because they should be amazing animators... but wow.

Dec 7, 2007 11:17 AM by ayaseyue

Tokyo U, only 16 students, Animation.
You need to be like, a genius with ALOT of capacity and luck. xD
But, for us, otaku, that might be great.

Dec 7, 2007 8:46 AM by Ryushi

USC should have one of those......

Dec 7, 2007 8:42 AM by angelfan16

*sigh* If only I could draw...

Dec 7, 2007 1:15 AM by Reveriesian

Wow cool. But guess its not all about knowing and watching anime, but more about drawing and so on.(which i don't have patience enough for)

Dec 6, 2007 3:54 PM by Lofoc

haha i seem to vaguely recall telling someone here on MAL (or maybe in the spam board) that i wish i could major in anime XD my wish has been answered! but of course im sure as hell not good enough to get into a school like that.

Dec 6, 2007 3:22 PM by Xjellocross

i want to take a course like that!!!!

Dec 6, 2007 1:18 PM by Kyo_Kagami

Crystal said:
Isn't animation like.... one of the worst jobs you can get in Japan? Or is graduating here giving you a head start from the graduates of animation schools? Like you may get a higher position?

And get paid better? I hope that happens.

Dec 6, 2007 12:37 PM by iFutari

Oh yeah; there had been some articles a few months ago about how animators get paid very little per episode ... that they face about the same dilemma as seiyuu.

So I agree; I'd hope that this degree would help them get a better income.

The animators recently formed a guild, didn't they? I wonder if there will be some future involvement between the guild and these future graduates.

Dec 6, 2007 9:27 AM by Crisu

That's...kind of neat. Of course, I have very little creativity flowing in my veins.

Dec 6, 2007 4:50 AM by Umandsf

Isn't animation like.... one of the worst jobs you can get in Japan? Or is graduating here giving you a head start from the graduates of animation schools? Like you may get a higher position?

Dec 6, 2007 3:16 AM by Crystal

That seems like a really fun course *Sulks in corner*

Dec 6, 2007 2:57 AM by LovelongSought