Kyoto University of Art and Design Collaborates with Anime Cram School

According to the Tokyo edition of Nikkei Shimbun (Feb 5) Telecom Animation Film and the Kyoto University of Art and Design will team up to provide the Internet "Anime Cram EX" program to train new animators.

The Anime Cram program was founded by TMS Entertainment in 2001 as a means to create the next generation of animation talents. Anime Cram's headmaster is Yasuo Otsuka, a well known animation director respected for his work on titles such as The Castle of Cagliostro and Future Boy Conan.

The program allows students to be coached by top level animators over the Internet, permitting students from all areas to receive top-level instruction. In addition to TMS Entertainment, other studios such as Studio Ghibli, Sunrise, Madhouse and Production I.G are involved with the project.

Joint education has taken place with numerous educational institutions, including the Tokyo Music and Media Arts Shobi, Osaka Animation and now the Kyoto University of Art and Design.

Despite the exploding quantity of new animation being produced in Japan, a shortage of talented artists has become apparent. Training programs such as this one have been created to address the shortage. Up until now, most animators had been trained on the job, creating a rift between the animation industry and educational institutions. While this program is onl