Some advice for those trying to get into the Japanese Animation Industry. Follow me on Twitter: / lastanimator Support me on Patreon: / dongchang Music by Beco
I went to a prestigious art college too and studied animation and Japanese for 4 years. I started getting severe migraines back in 2016 that would interfere with me creating art and animation, so I haven't done much art since 2016 after I graduated. I'm just now getting back to doing animation again and trying to find ways to work through my migraines. My childhood dream was always to work in the animation industry in Japan. I always wanted to work for Kyoani because I want to live in Kyoto in the Kansai region and Kyoani is the best. They hire women animators and artist and they pay well. When I was on their website for hiring applicants, they welcome people with disabilities and I have autism and a learning disability in sequential processing disorder. Plus, Kyoani actually messaged me back a few times when I emailed when I had questions about their award contest in 2018. I was thinking about going to Kyoani animation school just to learn the Kyoani style and Japanese way of doing animation. I have a friend who started an animation studio in Tokyo said that I would be wasting time going back to school for animation again. My friend said the only thing I would learn is the business side of animation. I will make my goal a reality one of these days! For right now, I'm working on a pilot animation that will be in English and Japanese. I already worked with the Japanese voice actors and got all the voice work done. I plan on doing the English version sometime this summer.
I'm not looking to go into the Anime industry specifically, but the animation industry in general, probably sticking mainly to the industry here in America. I'm hoping to spend at least a couple years in the industry to help improve my skills, and work on some cool shows while I do it.
I want to work in the anime industry to further my own skill set and then also create a place in the west where both Japanese and western animators can create anime that’s similar to works in Japan but unique to our own home. In short, I want the anime industry to expand and be more accepted and accessible to western animators and be an inviting prospect for Japanese animators in terms of profit growth and network building. I am also a current animation student at sheridan studying anime style animation and I hope everything turns out well.
I wanna eventually work in the anime industry because growing up in a country that doesn't have an easy means of watching anime I've been pirating it for so long, I just want to give back to the people that inspired me as a child to now. I also eventually want to make my own show but I need skill before I can even plant that tree to fruit it.
I also love anime and anime style music videos. But learning animation itself is difficult as i dont have any studios around to learn from and not many people even know about anime as a separate medium than normal cartoons. So sometimes i couldnt find the motivation to do much art . So i am looking for people to work with to grow . If you would like we should make something together like a short anime movie or even a fan anime animation?
sakuga animators have been the greatest inspiration in my life, it's the reason i keep going, no matter how bad some of my drawings or animations turn out to be on some days, because i look at how excited that level of animation makes people and how it can change the lives of some (like myself) and over and over again i'm able to tell myself; i'm going to be like that someday. i want to bring that kind of magic into people's lives. i'm a little hesitant about moving to japan, as i'd have to leave everyone i know behind, but i'm still only in high school, so i still have a bit of time to think about it all. but most likely, i'm gonna commit to it, one way or another. i'm planning on getting a job after school, and work for a whole year, put together some savings for moving and settling in, and do some freelance works in that one year to gain experience and build a portfolio, and start taking learning japanese seriously, so that i can at least be on entry level for when i do move out.
This is so fascinating, thank you! I'd love to hear your experience on the transition of moving to Japan, getting adjusted to the new culture, etc, if there's anything you would recommend/do differently now.
Hi Dong, thank you for this video. To reply, I'm also from that same Toronto industry, currently at Yowza for classical anim. I wanted to steal skills from the old veterans to help my chancesl in getting an anime job in the "future". But thanks to you sharing your experience and opinions, it seems it'll be achievable sooner. You're amazing! I'm very, very scared of moving to Japan. Learning their language is not my strong suit, but I'll do my best thanks to you and friends. I also have to take care of parents. Otherwise, I plan on working freelance from home. I don't know if it's realistic, but my prof suggested to work Daytime in Toronto, and Night time for anime to sustain pay and learn the anime skills. I've decided to take anime very seriously lately. What you've done differently is not rely on the fallback plan of the "rig industry", I realize now that I should consider classical my only option and work towards the best-case scenario of having an anime job. My reason is the same. Creative satisfaction, and animator's pride. Drawing high level animation in general. And I love anime art style, it keeps me happy. As an animator, I aim to become a master, and our industry here doesn't provide many jobs for "drawing anime or humans". Thank you, just knowing you're from Toronto as well makes my long-time dreams a possible reality. P.S. You've shown lots of videos animating in Opentoonz, does the animation software matter much in anime? I might've missed it. But I only know Toonboom Harmony for classical at the moment. I am slowly learning Clip Studio EX and Opentoonz, but I can put a larger priority in it.
i have the goal of working in japan and the dream of meeting the animators and mangaka that inspired me. of course its also because the animation industry is thriving over there so it would allow me to hopefully direct my own animated series. Thanks for the video
This is great stuff! Always so helpful for students wanting to jump into the animation industry. Could you make a video telling us about your internship in Japan? Would love to hear more!
Great video, I would love to do freelance animation from overseas as a side job. I've been drawing for 4 years but only just started learning animation.
Thanks you a lot this very informative. I know anime industry isn't the most ideal place to work but I do love animation and anime. And I also want to work here as a way to improve my skills as well.
Recent Sheridan grad who also has lived my whole life in Toronto Canada, NA industry is looking dry and grim but moving out to Japan is scary in it own way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the matter!
I want to get into the anime industry and eventually create my own series even if it means starting off as a freelancer part time (currently a computer scientist major). I’ve always been interested in cartoons and anime as a kid, drawing comics and whatnot but actually seeing it on screen is very rewarding.
Wow that's absurdly tuff I think even Kim Jung Gi dont stand a chance in anime industry, still getting to work with former madhouse who made most of my favorite anime I watched, ngl would be nice to experience that too
I want to work in the anime industry, but a bit different to most people I think. I don't want to work as an animator, rather I want to create an animation studio myself and have good working conditions and pay unlike a lot of Japanese animation studios nowadays. I'd also like to be able to direct/write my own anime at some point, so being the owner of a studio would make it easier to get it approved or whatever. It sounds very far fetched, but I have thought a lot about this, my explanation is heavily simplified. I still don't fully know if this is what I want to pursue, but it's currently what I'm trying to work towards. It's a very very ambitious goal after all. But I've always felt a very strong connection to Japan (as I am a Japanese person who grew up overseas), and I feel like I'm meant to be there. I know there are many people who want to work on anime but are scared to go into the industry because of the working conditions, and those who do, they go into "voluntary enslavement" as I've heard. I want to allow people to do what they want to do and not have to worry about working conditions, as well as being able to tell stories I want to tell.
And if you're wondering why I'm not 100% sure I want to pursue this, other than it being very ambitious, it's because there have been several occasions where I thought I knew what I wanted to do in the future but then a few months later I lost interest in doing so. Also I don't even know if it's entirely possible, I still need to do a lot of research on it.
good luck, man!! Positive changes won't be made until someone with the ambition to achieve those changes comes in, so I'm happy that there are people like you around.
Hey great vid super useful information! Do you think it's likely that a studio would be open to hire remote freelancers they've worked with before to come work inhouse in japan (given they have the skills/experience?) I've only heard of some freelancers that got fulltime contracts but still work remote. I started some freelance work recently and wondered if I should continue down that path until someone would perhaps invite me. Or should I instead try the traditional route by portfolio and interview? As for future videos, maybe you can give some tips on choosing studios to apply to and tell us about the different types of contracts and stuff ^^ Either way thanks man, looking forward to your next video!
Hi my name is Adrian , the reason why i want to work as an animator is more for the pleasure to see my draws turn a live and get pay for it, even if it is not to much money , i know is not a job with high pay checks and flexible schedules but believe me is better than work on a call center for customer service , at least here i do somthing that i love to do , Lucky for me my brother works as a japonese translater for a car industry here on Mexico and he can help me learning and understand stuff , still i need to learn japonese fore Mexicans its hard to start learning this language
Such a small world! I'm really surprised you went to Sheridan college! I'm currently a third year student in the program and also aim to work in the anime industry. Is there a way to contact you for more information? Thank you for all your work!
I'm only a 2nd year high schooler but I have a very big passion for animation and I feel like working for the animation industry in Japan is creatively fulfilling. My dad is Japanese and he made me a Japanese National. I can speak well enough to live there casually. I'm not sure what my Japanese proficiency level is since I never tested it. Keigo is hard since I'm used to speaking Japanese in a common manner. I don't mind being an inbetweener. I know it's really hard work, but I want to be able to have that harsh training experience. My family from Japan even told me to not work as an animator over there. I guess I'm quite stubborn. Luckily, I don't have to worry about a visa since I'm a Japanese national, but my main worry is how exactly I get work. I know for sure I'm going to live in Japan. I saw that Toei opened an animation institute and I'm planning to apply for it after graduating. It's also written that after finishing the institute, you are put into an animator position in Toei. On the other hand, I'm stuck deciding whether I should go to an animation school like Calarts (I'm from LA county) or Sheridan. I'll also be applying to Gobelins Paris just for the heck of it. Well, I'll see.
One more question, I might be foolish. But, if I were to move in the future after I've learnt proper Japanese writing/reading. Where in Japan is best for the anime jobs? Or should I email a company first before even moving. Once I gather the courage to move. Thank you!
How long does it typically take to put up 1 episode of an anime. I''ve been wondering just how much people work on one single episode and how long they take to finish one, especially since Re:Zero season 2 has been putting up 30 minute episodes with barely any openings and endings.
I want to work in the anime industry for greater artistic mastery. I miss the expressiveness of 2D animation when great scenes were animated frame by frame. Is it possible to have a full time job and work freelance in anime? It seems animators are overworked and underpaid so how are freelancers able to make enough to survive?
Hi Dong Chang, I have a friend who is currently working as a 2nd Key Animator remotely. For me personally Im a cg animator, , we can enroll to schools like animschool or animation mentor to further our skillset. Where do people who work in the japanese animation industry find mentorship to improve their skills? you know any resources where someone can get remote mentorship?
I want to enter into the Japanese industry under the same philosophical idea of that of Tasunoko productions founder Tatsuo Yoshida of that of giving "dreams for children of the world!" Anime has been with me since childhood and until now, if it wasn't for the works of the old from Mach GoGoGo, to Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, and Shin Sheki Evangelion! I wouldn't be a fan or give me the drive to want to create animation. I understand the situation of staff being over worked, little to no pay, and the work load, but those are all things that won't stop me from not entering the industry. I want to learn and build up, and create my own studio to create works like those who I look up to.
I'm 26 and heading back to school to study art and animation. I'll likely be 29 by the time I'm ready for the industry. Do you think my age is something that will work against me trying to animate in Japan?
I heard that if you are an animator in Japan you only make around 300 to 400 USD monthly. T'was from a video titled "Underpaid and Overworked: Being an Animator in Japan" Is this true? That seems really low.
I'm just wonder what is basic skill set into animation especially in anime , a lot of people said and i've ask some " animator u have to drawn as animator not illustration or comic " i came from a art school they said " please don't draw anime , that doesn't help you " that really make me confuse even tho so many Draftsmanshipp skill that i need to grasp especially for solid drawing as animator , but Don't know where to start and practice that will help me to understand that .. can u share your story about drawing for animation means , especially you're from non anime school like sheridan mostly draw and the production is Western style then u move into anime industry , and how do u can transition from westren animation into anime ,thanks 😁🙏 greeting from indonesia
