What better place to learn animation than Japan? A place where anime is a culture more than it is an art. In this article, I will walk you through the best animation schools in Japan providing relevant info on each of the schools and how they operate.
The first popular Japanese animation, popularly known as Anime, I ever watched was Dragon Balls but it was too noisy so I stopped watching it. Years later, my friend was finally able to convince me to watch Naruto and I fell in love from the first episode. One month later, I had watched all 720 episodes of Naruto and Naruto Shippuden. It was the best thing I ever watched in my entire life to date.
The storyline and animation were so good but at the beginning the animation was terrible as the episodes stretched, the animation quality advanced just like every other anime that began in the 90’s.
The Japanese are known for their futuristic technologies, advanced medicine, and art – anime – which is a huge part of their culture. Yes, that’s right! Animation is a huge part of the Japanese and you can find manga and anime in nearly every store, the art is all around you and this is what makes Japan the best place to study animation.
Going to Japan to study animation puts you right in the middle of a culture that has been in existence for over a hundred years and continues to grow and evolve into a trillion-yen industry.
If you’re intrigued about anime and want to learn how to make beautiful animations that tell a story to earn a degree or a certificate, I have curated a list of the best animation schools in Japan.
Japan is a hub of technological and scientific advancement. They are the world’s highest producers of many of the machines and technological innovations we see around. The fact that they are such intelligent, sophisticated people does not make them dull. The Japanese have one of the most colorful, fun arts in the world.
Growing up we watched a lot of anime shows such as Naruto, Dragonball Z, One Piece, Bleach, Seven Deadly Sins, Jujutsu Kaisen, etc. And as you must have already known, the Japanese is the mastermind behind these action-packed, fun, lively animations. It is part of the Japanese culture and most of them even talk about Japanese mythology and beliefs.
It is an interesting form of art that is currently making waves all over the world. Due to the many opportunities that the field presents, there has been a lot of interest, especially among the youth, to become animators and manga illustrators. Also, universities and colleges in Japan and other countries have seen this interest and are now teaching it as a program.
Yes, that’s correct. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in animation right where it all started – Japan – and where the culture is just pure and authentic. The field is growing at a fast pace and it is one of the fun jobs that pay well. If you have artistic skills or are passionate about animation, you shouldn’t be shy or scared to enhance the skill.
Rather, you should look for a good school to sharpen your skills, build a network of connections, and meet people already in the field and learn from their experience. While higher institutions in other countries may teach animation, this article is focused on discussing the best animation schools in Japan.
You may want to consider going to Japan to pursue a degree in animation. Firstly, this is where it originated, therefore, they are much better at it and have the right tools and people to teach you effectively. Also, the universities in Japan are much cheaper for international students than in the rest of the world.
How to Study Animation in Japan
Studying animation in Japan does not require any special or unique process. Simply go through a list of animation schools in Japan that accept international students. Contact the school either via telephone call or email to enquire about the tuition and their entry requirements. Make a list of your top choices and do further research on their academic quality, graduation rate, employment rate, and so on.
This could be quite a rigorous process for you this is why we have provided you with the list and details of the best animation schools in Japan so that you don’t have to go through the daunting task of looking for them yourself.
When you’ve finally made your choice, begin the application process this is usually online. I have listed some of the documents you may need for admission application into an animation school in Japan.
Admission Requirements for Animation Schools in Japan
Interested in attending an animation school in Japan? Then ensure you meet or possess the following admission requirements:
- Prospective students must have finished 12 years of formal education in their country and earned a high school diploma.
- Possess a valid passport and passport photos
- Proof of financial records to show that you can afford the cost of education and live in Japan.
- Health insurance
- Recommendation letters from past teachers and professors
- Take the TOEFL or IELTS test
- Statement of purpose
- All academic transcripts from past schools attended
- A letter of good standing from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in your home country
- Pass the university entrance exam
These are the basic requirements for animation schools in Japan
How to Get a Scholarship for Animation in Japan
To get a scholarship for animation in Japan you need to check in with the particular school you are applying for to know whether they offer scholarships or not. There are scholarships in Japan for international students mostly offered by universities to attract international students and make Japan among the destination hubs for international students.
To verify whether the animation school you are applying for offers scholarships, you simply need to contact the admissions office or check their websites for scholarships and financial aid opportunities. If any scholarships are available, ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements before applying.
With all the clarity observed, let’s get into the best animation schools in Japan.
List of Best Animation Schools in Japan
There are many animation schools in Japan but only the best ones have been outlined and discussed in this post. Links to each of the schools have been provided to offer you further guidance in case you see any of the schools that pique your interest. Through the links, you will also learn the application process, deadline, and available scholarship opportunities. Have a great read.
- Kyoto Seika University
- Osaka Animation College
- Tokyo Designer School
- Tokyo University of the Arts
- Yoyogi Animation Academy
- Aoba-Japan International School
- Amusement Media School
- Tokyo College of Anime
- Osaka Amusement Media College
- Sapporo College of Anime
- Tokyo Animator Academy College
- Toei Animation Institute
- Tokyo Media Academy
1. Kyoto Seika University
On our first list of best animation schools in Japan is Kyoto Seika University, a private college located in Iwakura, Kyoto, Japan, and popular for its quality academic offerings in animation. The university has a Department of Animation under the Faculty of Manga that offers animation courses to international and domestic students.
Students are trained and equipped with adequate skills to become successful animators and manga illustrators in the future. Some of the courses offered are cartoon art, comic art, oil painting, animation, digital design, and graphic design. All the courses are taught in Japanese and international students are accepted.
2. Osaka Animation College
Whether you want to be a voice-over artist, graphic designer, animator, or cartoonist, the Osaka Animation College is the place for you. You will gradually learn the basic skills improve your abilities to a practical level and become a professional animator with good knowledge in both analog and digital techniques.
All courses are taught in Japanese and a handful are taught in English. The courses taught in English are Anime Production, Animator Course, Complete Comic Course, Story Comic Course, and Character Design Course. Cutting-edge facilities are available for students to enhance their practical skills and work with professionals in the field.
3. Tokyo Designer School
Tokyo Designer School is one of the best animation schools in Japan offering a wide range of academic programs that cover animation and all forms of design. The institute nurtures designers with a wide field of vision and skills and a practical curriculum that meets the demands of the current field of design.
The school houses 11 departments that cover all aspects of design, offering highly specialized courses that create capable professionals. The courses offered are animation, game creation, manga, character design, and computer graphics.
4. Tokyo University of the Arts
Tokyo University of the Arts is a prestigious art school in Japan offering programs in animation and other genres of illustration and design. It is a public school located in Taito, Tokyo, Japan but has facilities in Toride, Ibaraki, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Kitasenju, and Adachi all in Tokyo. The courses offered here lead to an undergraduate or postgraduate degree.
The university is divided into the Faculties of Fine Arts, Music, and Graduate Schools of Fine Arts, Music, Film, and New Media. Scholarships and financial aid opportunities are offered to students to reduce their tuition load and encourage them to follow their dreams.
5. Yoyogi Animation Academy
This Japanese animation school is Japan’s largest animation and art institution with a high reputation. It is among the best animation schools in Japan and all courses are taught in Japanese therefore students must have the ability to fully understand the Japanese language to attend Yoyogi Animation School.
The institute has facilities in Miyazaki, Takamatsu, Sendai, Sapporo, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Harajuku, Osaka, Hachioji, Nagoya, and Wakayama. Each of these facilities or campuses has features and courses are taught differently. The courses offered include animation, multimedia creation, illustration, animation AV operator, and digital animation artist.
6. Aoba-Japan International School
Aoba-Japan International School is another of the best animation schools in Japan with two campuses in Hikargoaka and Meguro. Students can decide to apply to either of them, they offer the same programs but the environments are different which is what students need to look out for before sending out applications. Ensure it is an environment that fits your needs.
The institution accepts international students and uses an international curriculum to develop future leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the fields of animation design, voice acting, and game design. A handful of courses are taught in English to satisfy the needs of incoming international students and cutting-edge facilities and resources are constantly available to support students’ experiential learning.
7. Amusement Media School
Amusement Media School was established in 1993 in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan, and continues to offer quality academic offerings and innovative curriculum to meet students’ needs and fit the current business model and needs of the animation field. The multimedia school provides training programs in various genres of design such as computer and graphics design, animation, game design, manga illustration, and voice-over.
The school equips students with the latest animation design techniques and connects them to a professional network of successful individuals in the field to gain business ideas that can be efficient in turning your skill into a successful career.
8. Tokyo College of Anime & E-Sports
Tokyo College of Anime is located at Nishikasai, Edogawa-Ku, Tokyo and it is one of the best animation schools in Japan that you should add to your list. You can take courses in voice acting, anime design, or e-sports which typically take 2-3 years to complete, and join the growing community of animation designers to make your work known in Japan and the world.
International students are accepted and there is an office for international students where you can get all the details you need to apply. Other programs offered include a Digital CG animation major, anime sound, novel & scenario major, super pro gamer major, e-sport management major, and illustration & character design major.
9. Osaka Amusement Media College
Osaka Amusement College is one of the best animation schools in Japan. It is located in Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka. The college is designed to train and develop your ability in various art forms ranging from voice acting and animation to character design and game programming. These courses are offered via its 8 departments of;
- Game programmer
- Game creator
- Character design
- Game/animation 3DCG
- Animation
- Manga illustration
- Novels literary arts
- Voice actor
Innovative programs are offered through these departments to enhance your skills and develop your abilities to make you number 1 in the industry.
10. Sapporo College of Anime
On our tenth list of best animation schools in Japan is the Sapporo College of Anime, a prestigious animation and graphics school in Japan. The school is mainly focused on anime and manga illustration and doesn’t offer gaming design/programming courses like the others. Students here can easily meet like minds, as the program offering isn’t very broad, and share ideas that can uplift them in the industry.
International students are welcome to apply for any of the courses offered at Sapporo. These courses are Manga Major, Comic Illustration, Major Voice Actor, Anime Song, and Animator.
11. Tokyo Animator Academy College
Next on our list of best animation schools in Japan is the Tokyo Animation College. The college offers four professional courses in voice acting, animation, cartoonism, and illustration. These courses are designed to equip students with the skills and connections they need to succeed in their respective careers.
The application process and deadlines can be found in the link below.
12. Toei Animation Institute
Toei Animation Institute offers an outstanding animation education in Japan. It is owned by the company that produces One Piece, Gegege no Kitaro, Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, and many others. As a student here, this allows you to work alongside reputable professional creators and draw inspiration from their work and experience as animators.
The courses offered by the institute are director, digital animation artist, writer, producer, animation, planning, and background artist.
13. Tokyo Media Academy
Tokyo Media Academy is a reputable school that supports students who want to pursue careers in animation, writing, and voice acting. This is a place where you can turn your dream into reality as you work alongside experienced and professional animators, writers, and voice actors.
Tuition at Tokyo Media Academy is between 50,000 Yen to 300,000 yen per year and the program takes 2 years to complete.
Conclusion
This brings an end to the best animation schools in Japan and I hope they help you to achieve your dreams of being an animator, voice actor, or manga illustrator. This is an interesting, fun field and it is obvious from the manga and anime we see around if you have a talent or passion for it, do not hesitate to pursue it further.
FAQs
How much does it cost to study animation in Japan?
The cost of studying animation in Japan ranges between 50,000 yen to 300,00 yen depending on the school you attend.
How many years of college do you need to become an animator in Japan?
2-3 years is the required time to complete an animator program in Japan
Can international students study animation in Japan?
Some animation schools in Japan accept international students but students have to be fluent in English or Japanese.
Can I study animation in Japan in English?
Yes, you can study animation in Japan in English. A handful of international animation schools in Japan offer animation programs in the English language to satisfy the needs of international students.
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