If you are passionate about Japanese culture, you must have been curious to know what animation schools are like! Having a career in animation is quite lucrative as it is one of the highest-paid professions in the world. If you are interested in this field, you probably love illustrations, have creativity, and are good at it.
Animation schools do not exist only in Japan; in other countries, such as Canada, the USA, and others, it is also possible to find them. The advantage of courses in Japan is that they are more comprehensive. There are other courses within the animation school that integrate quality education and easy access to animation universities in Japan.
The beginning of animation in Japan
According to the Japanese Culture website, in 1910, the Japanese began to learn about animations through cinemas. They were silent short animations, all foreign, mostly American. Many were produced in what is known today as the pioneering animation hub of New York. After that, Japanese animators began to make their own animations, but without any encouragement.
Seitarō Kitayama was one of the first to embark on this field; in 1913, he began studying ink paper and from that, he was able to produce short films based on Japanese children’s fables, such as “Saru Kani Kassen” (“The Fight Between the Crab and the Monkey”), which was only produced four years after his studies of ink paper. “Momotaro” (“Peach Boy”) was also one of his productions and was released in 1918; this was the first Japanese animated film shown abroad (in France).
Junichi Kouchi was another animator and director who produced “Hanahekonai Shinken” (“The New Sword of Hanahekonai”) in 1917. In 1920, this animator and director stood out for experimenting with shades of gray. To us today, this may not seem so revolutionary, but for animations of that time, it was considered a superproduction because it meant more spending on ink.
Despite suffering from limitations on freedom of expression, Japanese animation during the military period gained technical evolution due to the money received from the government for productions.
The first technical advances began in 1929 when the Yokohama Cinema Shokai company acquired an automatic motor camera that did not require a crank to operate. The first film to be shot was Kaeru wa kaeru (A frog is a frog).
Kenzo Masaoka was the first to use celluloid (a plastic substance or plastic that is quite malleable under heat) for cinema animation. Masaoka studied drawing at an art school; his first film was in 1930 with Nansensu monogatari Sarugashima (The absurd story of the island of monkeys).
During World War II, there were still some animations made, many of which, especially foreign ones, were war-related. In the post-war period, in August 1945, Shin Nihon Dogasha, dedicated to producing animated films, was established, with Sanae Yamamoto and Kenzo Masaoka as key figures. Based in Tokyo, it managed to gather up to 100 people to dedicate themselves to the world of animation, but the lack of work led to the company’s closure.
In 1958, the largest animation film production company in Japan, Toei, was founded, presided over by Hiroshi Okawa. During this period, there was a greater concern to make Japanese productions closer to foreign ones in terms of quality because until then, their facilities were very poor.
Television began broadcasting animations in 1953 for children, but they were produced in the United States. The robot Tetsuwan Atomu (popularly known as Astro Boy), created by Osamu Tezuka, was initially made to be produced periodically for a magazine, but in early 1963 it became a series. This animation was well received by the child audience and reached one-third of the viewership.
Best animation schools in Japan
There were no specific animation schools before; those who wanted to succeed in this field would take some college courses in the arts, which provided guidance on how to work with it. Nowadays, there are schools dedicated solely to animation. This greatly helps with better preparation, as the market is now modern and competitive.
Animation is the name given to any and all forms of animated media. Anime means animation, but this is just a style of animation. In animation schools, graphic art, characterization, cinematography, and other forms of imaginative and individualistic techniques that contribute to good creation are taught.
Let’s look at the list of the 15 best written by World Scholarship Forum. In these schools, the artist receives a complete education and has the chance to become a great director and producer of animations. Being a profession with great earnings, surely those who have the gift of drawing wish to venture into this creative world.
- Tokyo Designer School
- International Design College
- Entertainment Media School
- Toei Animation Institute
- Tokyo Animation School
- Manga Institute in Japan
- Kyoto Seika University
- Aoba-Japan International School
- Tokyo Anime Seiyu Senmon School
- Multimedia Art School
- Yoyogi Animation School
- Sapporo Anime College
- Kodansha Cultural Center
- Osaka Animation School
- Fukuoka Design College
Tokyo Designer School
As the name suggests, the Tokyo Designer School is located in the capital of Japan, and it is among the best animation schools in the world. This college teaches all types of design so that students can graduate more qualified and know how to create all kinds of art. The unit has 11 departments focused on design.
The courses offered by this college are: Animation, Game Creator, Character Design, Computer Graphics, Manga and Comics, Illustration.
International Design College
This institution is located in Kouchi-shi, and it is also among the best in the world in terms of quality and standardization of animation courses. This institution focuses on manga and offers the option to study in person and online. The courses offered are Graphic Design, Interior Design, Architecture, Manga/Comics.
Entertainment Media School
The Entertainment Media School Sougou Gakuin is located in Tokyo and was founded in 1993. The school contributes to the training of professionals in the multimedia entertainment field, including mangaka, writers, animators, computer and graphic designers, and even voice actors. It is an arts school that offers a wide range of possibilities for those interested in working with animated media.
The school is part of the AMG Entertainment Group and offers courses in Voice Acting, Game Creation, Animation Creation, Multimedia Creation, Novels, Animator, Manga, and Comics.
Toei Animation Institute
The Toei Animation Institute is located in Tokyo and is considered one of the best animation schools in Japan and a pioneer of Japanese animation. The institute is owned by Toei company, which has produced several series, including Sally the Witch, Gegege no Kitaro, Mazinger Z, Galaxy Express 999, Dr. Slump, Dragon Ball, Saint Seiya, Sailor Moon, Slam Dunk, Digimon, One Piece, and the Precure series.
The courses offered by the institution are: Animation, Planning, Producer, Director, Digital Animation Artist, Writer, Background Artist.
Tokyo Animation School
The Tokyo Animation School is a great opportunity for those who wish to become animators, voice actors, and cartoonists. This animation school has over 850 hours of coursework per year. To enroll, one must have completed high school. The school has 5 departments, including animation and illustration.
The school offers scholarships for domestic and international students, including the Qualification Scholarship for International Students. The courses offered are: CG games, Game Creator, Illustration, Animation Character Design, Novels, Junior Novels, Manga/Comics, Airbrush Illustration, and Writer.
Manga Institute in Japan
The Japan Manga Institute is located in Tokyo and is an institution that has 7 colleges with over 35 study departments. Studying at the Japan Manga Institute costs an average of 450,000 to 1,500,000 yen. The courses offered are Animation and Manga/Comics.
Kyoto Seika University
Kyoto Seika University was founded in 1968 and licensed as a university in 1979. The school is aimed at training manga artists. Seika corresponds to five colleges: Art, Design, Manga, Popular Culture, and Humanities, along with associated Graduate Schools. More than 3,000 students enroll annually in this animation school. The tuition fees for undergraduate students are 1.75 million yen.
The institution offers courses and programs that lead to officially recognized higher education diplomas, such as bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in various fields of study. Offered courses include: Voice Acting, Game Creator, Computer Graphics Animation Creator, Multimedia Creator, Novels, Animator, Manga, and Comics.
Aoba-Japan International School
At Aoba Japan International School, it is quite common to receive international students. Studying at such an institution costs an average of 2,773,500 yen. The school aims to develop future global leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators, effective communicators, wise risk-takers, and effective problem solvers. The courses offered by the school are Voice Acting, Game Creator, and Computer Graphics Animation Creator.
Tokyo Anime Seiyu Senmon School
The Tokyo Anime Seiyu Senmon School, or Tokyo Media Academy, offers animation courses for voice actors lasting up to 2 years. The school accepts 155 students per year.
The courses offered include vocalization, pronunciation, breathing techniques, and tuning. Voice Acting: performance, character expression: emotionally rich and dynamic expression, Game Creator, Computer Graphics Animation Creator, Multimedia Creator, Novels, Animator, Manga, and Comics.
Multimedia Art School
The Sougou Gakuin Entertainment Media School was founded as a company in 1993 in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. This animation school offers course systems in various areas of entertainment, such as game creators, mangaka, writers and essayists, animators, computer and graphic designers, and also voice actors.
The school is part of the AMG Entertainment Group. The courses offered are: “Voice Acting, Game Creator, Creator of computer graphics animation, Multimedia Creator, Novels, Animator, Manga, and Comics.”
Yoyogi Animation School
The admission requirement for Yoyogi Animeshon Gakuin is high due to its excellent participation. Candidates must be able to fully understand the Japanese language. The school accepts qualified individuals regardless of gender, race, or national or ethnic origin. However, the school denies applications from individuals who suffer from physical disabilities, which may be an occupational obstacle.
The school has 12 campuses: Tokyo, Harajuku, Hachioji, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo, Hiroshima, Shizuoka, Wakayama, Takamatsu, Miyazaki. The courses offered are Animation, Digital Animation Artist, AV Animation Operator, Junior Novels, Multimedia Creator, Animation Camera, Manga, Comics, and Illustration.
Sapporo Anime College
Sapporo College of Anime is one of the best animation colleges in Japan that offers quality programs for both domestic and international students. To enroll in any course at this school, you must have completed high school.
The school has 3 departments that include the Digital Technology Department, Creative Design Course, and General Entertainment Department. The courses are Manga major, Comics, Voice Actor, Anime Song, and Animator.
Kodansha Cultural Center
The Sougou Gakuin Entertainment Media School emerged as a company in 1993 in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It is a multimedia school and offers course systems in various areas of entertainment, such as game creators, mangaka, writers and essayists, animators, computer and graphic designers, and also voice actors.
It is also an institution that is part of the AMG Entertainment Group. The courses are Illustration, Manga/Comics, and Comic Illustration.
Osaka Animation School
Osaka Animation School is one of the best animation schools in Japan. The goal is to train leaders in the animation industry or animation supervisors. The school has more than 850 hours per year, and the admission requirement is the completion of high school. The courses offered are Voice Acting, Multimedia Creator, Novels, Animator, Manga and Comics.
Fukuoka Design College
The Kyushu Design Institute in Fukuoka, Japan, is one of Japan’s prestigious national universities, founded in April 1968. The university combines the disciplines of Architecture, Industrial Design, Visual Communication Design, Acoustic Design, and Art and Information Design.
In October 2003, the Kyushu Design Institute became Kyushu University, Graduate School of Design. The available courses are Store Design, Computer Graphics Animation, Illustration and Character Design, Store Design, Graphic Design, Furniture Design, and Design Editing.
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