by As of January 19, 2021, Netflix has over 203 million paid users with services operated in more than 190 countries with a huge streaming library consisting of all kinds of shows and movies from all across the globe. And within its extensive collection, Netflix has truckloads of both anime- influenced original animation and traditional Japanese anime that draw in a large number of visitors every month. So to continue to expand its original content in the long run and at the same time significantly broaden its customer base Netflix will financially support and encourage the growth of animation studies in Japan.
Partnering up with Wit Studio, which is known for titles like Attack On Titan, Vinland Saga, The Ancient Magus’ Bride, Great Pretender, Owari no Seraph, Netflix will launch the WIT Animator Academy this April to give a leg up to young and inexperienced students to further their careers within the animation industry. Here are a few things you need to know about it.
1. The Course
The WIT Animator Academy course will start this Spring 2021 in cooperation with reputed Sasayuri Video Training Center as Hitomi Tateno,(famous veteran animator who worked at renowned Studio Ghibli for 30 years) being one of the main instructors alongside Executive Vice President of Production I.G and President of Wit Studio George Wada and Taiki Sakurai, Chief Producer, Anime at Netflix.
The first course will run for six months starting in April to September this year and about only 10 successful applicants will get the chance to learn how to create the frames that lie between keyframes in animations. On top of that after completing the course the graduates will draw, in- between animation, for WIT Studio projects as well as Netflix original animes.
2. Scholarship
After reading all of this you might be wondering “So how much will the course cost ?”, And the answer is not even a single yen. Netflix will pay each student’s tuition fee of 600,000 yen (US $5,720), as well as 150,000 yen ( US $1,427) per month for living expenses.
3. Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be Japanese residents aged between 18 to 25 who have graduated high school or will do so this March.
- Non-Japanese citizens may apply and full fluency of Japanese isn’t required as long as applicants have basic everyday skills in Japanese.
So hurry up. Head forward to http://www.witstudio.co.jp/animatorschool.html
The cutoff date for applications is 28 February!
