Study animation in Japan.

[fabo929]

Konnichiwa minna-san! ~

I'm new here soo yourushiku onegaishimasu!

Well, I wanted to ask that is it possible for me to study Animation/media science in Japan? I mean who would be better than Japan? But the thing is that I want to do that in an English university(courses/lectures in English). I'm afraid I won't be able to learn Japanese that well

Hiragana and katana totally go over my head and how will I learn in such a short amount of time but I'll try hard because I'm in love with Japanese culture. Other than that, I'm from Pakistan and I heard that they are particularly strict over the Pakistanis? Is that true?

I even did an animation course for 6 months from a well-renowned institute. Do I have a chance?

Taskitte kudasai!

 

[fabo929]

okay, no one replying TT_TT

 

[Glenski]

You are in love with Japanese culture but can't/won't master the simplest of the alphabets? You are in love with Japanese culture but can't/won't master the simplest of the alphabets? You want to study in Japan but don't have the language ability?

Uh, learn it. You will need it.

Here's an old thread with some particularly helpful info. Plenty more on the internet. Can you at least use Google:

animation schools in Japan - japan-guide.com forum

Here's more good information for someone even more clueless.

Going to japan to study animation or arts in general | Japan Forum

Temple Uni teaches in English something called Popular Culture. Might be worth a look.

Temple University, Japan Campus: Studies in Japanese Popular Culture

More.

do u have any view about studying animation in Japan?^^ - Learn Other - italki Answers
Studying Anime Animation in Japan ﾃ｢竄ｬあ week 2

Anime and Manga - Learn to Draw Anime and Manga - Japanese Comics and Animation

 

[ariso07]

Agreed with Glenski 100%. There are schools that offer classes all in English (Temple being one of the major ones) but there are not many, and none of them teach Animation. But in addition to all the things already mentioned here, I have to ask: Why?

Why study in Japan when you don't speak the language? Do you think, by taking classes all in English and living in Japan, you will absorb the language and then be able to work there? Japanese is hard but the Japanese work environment is harder. I have only known one person who had a job remotely connected to this (he was a manga inker) and he said the hours and pay are terrible and the competition is stiff. So, if Japanese have trouble getting into animation, are you planning to take classes in English and then try to break into the Japanese animation field without speaking their language? I'm sorry but I think you need to rethink your plan.

Please understand, I don't mean to be hard on you. I had the same dream when I was in middle school. It just isn't possible. You will need to reconsider.

 

[shaunobrien]

Hey just wondering, if you want to make anime your going to have to learn the language. Simple as that. I'm definitly doing it in Japanese but i am doing what you want to do. I'm applying for the Monbukagakusho scholarship (find the thread on here) to do my masters. I did my undergraduate at home in Australia and am now in the final stage to do a more focused course on film and television (and animation) sound. There are plenty of courses both Graduate and undergraduate offered in many countries around the world. but if you want to particularly do the japanese animation style, learning the language is the only way.

Once you get the hang of it hiragana and katakana are easy - its the Kanji thats the killer. The scholarship i'm applying for has language training included. And if your dedicated to it, you should do fine learning it just by being immersed in the language. - you will need it to survive.

 

[Kamila_R]

Konbanwa. Let's say I've already learned Hiragana and Katakana, but have some problems with Kanji. However, I still wish to sudy animation in Japan. I searched some colleges online, didn't find the ones who provide it in English. Can somebody recommend the links for me?

 

[Glenski]

Unless you read children's books, and I mean the simplest ones for 3 year olds, hiragana and katakana are not going to get you anywhere. ANYwhere. Especially in a college. Everybody and his brother, whether they are animation majors or not, want to draw for manga and animation, and you'll have to be able to read a contract (not to mention negotiate with spoken language) to break into that field.

I'm not the least bit surprised that you can't find animation schools that teach in English.

 

[Mike Cash]

Konbanwa. Let's say I've already learned Hiragana and Katakana, but have some problems with Kanji. However, I still wish to sudy animation in Japan. I searched some colleges online, didn't find the ones who provide it in English. Can somebody recommend the links for me?

I wish you all the best in pursuing your dreams, but if your Japanese isn't sufficient to google schools in Japanese then it isn't going to be sufficient to attend classes taught in Japanese.

What are you doing about learning the language? You're going to need to be about N2 (preferably N1) to pull this off. Perhaps you could attend language school here first?

 

[hsark]

Konbanwa. Let's say I've already learned Hiragana and Katakana, but have some problems with Kanji. However, I still wish to sudy animation in Japan. I searched some colleges online, didn't find the ones who provide it in English. Can somebody recommend the links for me?

1.
try Yokohama Design College Yokohama Design College (YDC) - Study Japanese in Yokohama you do not need to know Japanese prior but you will take intensive Japanese as a foreign language then transition to animation/manga i think for some of the courses you could join even sooner but I'm not sure so contact them
2.
posters above made so valid points I recommend you read the following articles if you can contact the writer of the first article they could put you in touch with some foreigner animators
Japanese Animators Give Advice for the Anime Industry

Being an Animator in Japan Is Brutal 

 

[foroozan]

hi guys,I interested in studying animation and I love japan, I know japan is well known cause of anime and manga but, is it reasonable to go there for studying animation(except language difficulty)? which universities are good in bachelors degree?

 

[Mike Cash]

hi guys,I interested in studying animation and I love japan, I know japan is well known cause of anime and manga but, is it reasonable to go there for studying animation(except language difficulty)? which universities are good in bachelors degree?

If you want to go to university here, you usually need to have passed JLPT N1. How is your Japanese?

What do you mean by "reasonable"?

 

[foroozan]

If you want to go to university here, you usually need to have passed JLPT N1. How is your Japanese?

What do you mean by "reasonable"?

I just started to learn....I mean the instruction in there is that good to go there? I heard if i take scholarship they provide 6 month japanese instruction...could you tell me which universities are the best?...thanks

 

[Mike Cash]

I just started to learn....I mean the instruction in there is that good to go there? I heard if i take scholarship they provide 6 month japanese instruction...could you tell me which universities are the best?...thanks

It doesn't matter how good the instruction is if you can't understand it.

If there are universities in Japan teaching animation in English, you should be able to find them by a google search. If you can't find them then there aren't any.

As I mentioned earlier, most universities which teach in Japanese require foreign students to pass level N1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Are you familiar with the test?

Japanese-Language Proficiency Test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is estimated that teaching N1 will require over 3000 hours of Japanese study. As you can see, not even a six-month preparatory course will take a person from just starting to being ready to do university level work in Japanese.

The scholarship program which offers the course you are asking about is the MEXT scholarship.

Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship Students

Undergraduate students receive one year of language training.

Please notice that the number of new undergraduate scholarships given each year is under 500, so the application process is competitive.

Types of Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarships

 

[Glenski]

Six months is nothing. We have foreign students at my university, and some of them are required to do such an intensive study before taking courses. They still barely function. Be sure what sort of language instruction you are being offered and what the typical results are.

You say you are "interested" in studying animation and manga here. What kind of experience do you have? A portfolio would be nice.

Look up Carolin Eckhardt on YouTube, in particular the Japanology Plus TV program episode. See how her own language experience coupled to her experience.
Japanophiles - Carolin Eckhardt - Japanology Plus - TV - NHK WORLD - English

 

[Mike Cash]

@foroozan

I can see by time stamps that you have come back and seen our further replies to you. We took the time to write them and to hunt up links to useful information for you. You could at least verbally acknowledge that you saw the replies.

 

[bononogram]

@foroozan

I can see by time stamps that you have come back and seen our further replies to you. We took the time to write them and to hunt up links to useful information for you. You could at least verbally acknowledge that you saw the replies.

Haha, what?

This is public message board. C'mon.

You are an interesting guy.

 

[Glenski]

If Mike is right, what's your excuse?

 

[Mike Cash]

Haha, what?

This is public message board. C'mon.

You are an interesting guy.

I dislike wasting my time helping other people with THEIR problems and finding I have put more time, thought, care, and effort into it than they have themselves. I fail to see how this being a public message board is an excuse.

What business is it of yours to take stick your nose in and take exception to what I said anyway? This is a public message board. C'mon.

I'd have a higher regard for your input on the matter if you had shown up and tried to be helpful instead of just showing up after the fact and playing Net Nanny. Try making yourself useful around here.

 

[foroozan]

It doesn't matter how good the instruction is if you can't understand it.

If there are universities in Japan teaching animation in English, you should be able to find them by a google search. If you can't find them then there aren't any.

As I mentioned earlier, most universities which teach in Japanese require foreign students to pass level N1 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. Are you familiar with the test?

Japanese-Language Proficiency Test - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is estimated that teaching N1 will require over 3000 hours of Japanese study. As you can see, not even a six-month preparatory course will take a person from just starting to being ready to do university level work in Japanese.

The scholarship program which offers the course you are asking about is the MEXT scholarship.

Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship Students

Undergraduate students receive one year of language training.

Please notice that the number of new undergraduate scholarships given each year is under 500, so the application process is competitive.

Types of Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarships

thanks a lot...and sorry but i couldnt cause of my connection problem.....sorry about time you put on my questions :sorry:

 

[foroozan]

Six months is nothing. We have foreign students at my university, and some of them are required to do such an intensive study before taking courses. They still barely function. Be sure what sort of language instruction you are being offered and what the typical results are.

You say you are "interested" in studying animation and manga here. What kind of experience do you have? A portfolio would be nice.

Look up Carolin Eckhardt on YouTube, in particular the Japanology Plus TV program episode. See how her own language experience coupled to her experience.
Japanophiles - Carolin Eckhardt - Japanology Plus - TV - NHK WORLD - English

thanks,i have animation diploma and now im studying cinematography,i wanna have more experience in animation...i just wanted to know is it right to put on energy to study japanese

 

[Mike Cash]

thanks,i have animation diploma and now im studying cinematography,i wanna have more experience in animation...i just wanted to know is it right to put on energy to study japanese

That is a value judgment that only you can make. If you want to study animation in Japan, you're going to have to learn Japanese.

You may be able to attend a two or three year course at a technical school instead of a university and they may have somewhat lower language requirements than a university, but you would have to check with the individual school to find out.

 

[Glenski]

See if there are any places that offer internships, too.

 

[hsark]

go check out Lars blog larsmartinson.com he`ll give you info on going to Japan to study animation.....if you go through MEXT your going also have to put in a solid manga/animation research proposal
and again check out that school in Yokohama ...as Mike said a tech college or Art school seem the best bet

 

[Chakry]

That is a value judgment that only you can make. If you want to study animation in Japan, you're going to have to learn Japanese.

You may be able to attend a two or three year course at a technical school instead of a university and they may have somewhat lower language requirements than a university, but you would have to check with the individual school to find out.

Hey Man..
I have read all the above conversation and I just wanted one last confirmation like JLPT N1 and JAPANESE language is a must in order to get into any Japanese universities (animation course) is that it!?

 

[Mike Cash]

Hey Man..
I have read all the above conversation and I just wanted one last confirmation like JLPT N1 and JAPANESE language is a must in order to get into any Japanese universities (animation course) is that it!?

Many schools now use a different exam, but if you want to take courses taught in Japanese then, yes, you're going to have to have a strong command of Japanese.

How is your Japanese? (Let me guess....you haven't started learning it yet?)