College

[Lera]

Hi, Im going nuts literally, Ive been turned down by so many colleges and I just wish to go into an Anime College where I can learn to create my own managa or series. Heck even a college that would allow me to do so would be great? Does anyone know of any colleges that have this as a manor or major? I've been drawling in this style for ten to eleven years now and I will be graduating high school this year. Please help me :?

 

[Jungle Boy]

How can a college turn you down when you are paying them money? Don't they like money?

 

[username5433]

I have not heard of any colleges that specialize in manga, anime, or any form of comic. I know a friend of mine have the same intentions as you in that he wants to make anime. He is taking a course in computer animation though which isn't a bad idea. Even though you will learn to do art with computers this is something I think you should consider. Alot of animes use computers and it is done alot more than your would think. Even in the show southpark I would say 95% of it is done though a computer (based on a documentury I saw). The school that my friend and I are in (which he is taking computer animation) is called Full Sail. The school is expensive but they will not turn you down. The school is much like a bussiness. is you pay them then they will admit you. Well I hope I was a little helpfull. even though it may not be the answer you are looking for I would highly recommend going into computer animation.

 

[Sally_Hawn]

Might have an opportunity to draw for the Almighty Simpsons Show.

I know there is a college famous for animation and cartoon. Many of their graduates got hired by Hollywood. Some of them working for the Simpsons TV show.

You can take a look at this article
http://www.collegesurfing.com/school_detail_featured.php?school_id=3301458&type=2
The school I am talking about is in Ontario, Canada. Tuition is not expensive, but it is difficult to get in. It's name is Sheridan College. http://www.sheridanc.on.ca/
They are only famous in animation though...

 

[Stutz]

I'll be the one to say it, no American can make a living making Anime or Manga. But if you really want to do something with animation, the only thing Americans really do is computer animation. All of the 2D stuff is done overseas, even by Disney. Though, a lot of the ex-Disney animators have set up their own studio so if you want to make animated movies, you might want to lend your talent to that group.

Though, if you want to draw for a living in the comic industry, the best thing to do is just sumbit samples to different companies showing your skills. That's really the only way to do it that I know of.

 

[Mike Cash]

You might look into majoring in something like commercial art (if such a major exists). It will provide you with skills that ought to help your manga and provide you with valuable (read: marketable) skills that should stand you in good stead in a more broad art context.

Alternately, I do know that in Japan there are 専門学校 for aspiring anime and manga artists. I have no idea what your chances of admission would be or whether they could help you with a student visa.

 

[myrrhine]

i'd say find a liberal arts school with a strong art department, (collegeboard.com and collegeview.com are decent places to start looking) and just major in plain old art. big schools with big and diverse art departments would probably be what you're looking for...
pursue anime on the side, most professors (in any subject) will be happy to help you as much as they can if you're really enthusiastic about something. independent studies are key here. 'course, you'd probably want to make sure you take computer graphics/animation, and whatever else will apply particularly to anime/manga...

also, no matter what your specific style, a really strong background in more diverse areas of art and art history is going to help you... the best work in any field is usually when someone successfully blends two separate areas!

 

[shiroma]

Alternately, I do know that in Japan there are 専門学校 for aspiring anime and manga artists.

like this place which adds no credentials for career-building.

I'd personally say that real higher education would help in the long run.

 

[Mike Cash]

I wonder how they got a job placement ratio of over 136%?

 

[budd]

"I'll be the one to say it, no American can make a living making Anime or Manga."
MegaTokyo - relax, we understand j00

some articles
ttp://www.ex.org/htmlknife.html
ttp://www.ex.org/1.1/07-frazier_1.html
ttp://www.ex.org/1.4/04-production_ig1.html

ttp://forums.productionig.com/
has one or two blogs(?) of people in japan right now

gl kid

 

[Stutz]

"I'll be the one to say it, no American can make a living making Anime or Manga."
MegaTokyo - relax, we understand j00

And if you ask him, Fred doesn't consider Megatokyo manga even if it does draw inspiration from manga and anime.

I still stand by the idea that there isn't such a thing as an American being a published artist in a Japanese manga magazine and that is really the only way to do manga since no matter how hard Americans try to imitate, they still end up with comics with manga influence and lack all the things that make manga authentic. Even if one American became a published mangaka in a Japanese zasshi, the chance that another person will be able to do it is like 0.00000000001%.

Now on the interview you posted, that guy had good fortune being able to get into a company, but I'm sure he represents the small minority and not even close to what can really occur for the average anime/manga fan. Plus I doubt you get a job like his just by speaking a non-Japanese language. Fluency in Japanese is pretty much a huge requirement for non Japanese citizens to work in industries like that.

I guess I shouldn't have said it's impossible, but the chances are so narrow, it might as well be considered impossible. I'd say there are better chances being struck by lightning twice than getting a job in the Japanese manga and anime industries. There isn't anything wrong with having goals, but you also have to be realistic when it comes to future planning. Why just focus on a career in anime and manga when the same skills can be applied to American (or whatever country you're from) animation and comics and will likely be more receptive to your skills? I realize the American comic and animation market has become very stereotypical, but it would be a great place to bring about change by doing what you like, bringing your art and storytelling together. Although I am not able to draw myself, I want to change the way Americans look at animation and comics through some future business ventures I want to engage in. It's my dream you could say, but I also am making sure I keep my options open which is why I've spent my time in college studying accounting and computer technology so I can make a living. That's hopefully one thing the topic poster doesn't forget, have dreams, but also make sure you can make a living too since there are some dreams that may never come true.

 

[myrrhine]

stutz has a point about trying your luck in the american industry... there is actually a lot of interesting, non-typical stuff out there. can't say i'm that in touch with the comic world, but stuff like the sandman series (neil gaiman = deity) is hardly "standard".
and from what i can tell, popular.

there's also cool stuff going on that messes with more typical forms of american comic, like the spider jerusalem series or the planetary series (same author, can't remember the name)

definitely stuff for someone interested in animation of any kind to check out. or creative writing for that matter.

 

[budd]

"even if it does draw inspiration from manga and anime."
Amazon | 本, ファッション, 家電から食品まで | アマゾン

"and from what i can tell, popular."
http://www.animeplay-mag.com/issues.php