Digital Hollywood Ties Up with Sanjigen, “Sanjigen Hollywood” Course to Begin This Month

Digital Hollywood implemented in September 2012 its “Next Animator Project” (NAP), a project with the aim of cultivating animators who will produce internationally-acclaimed Japanese-style animation using 3D CG.

For the first stage of the project, Digital Hollywood teamed up with Kamikaze Douga to offer a seven-day training course called “Kamikaze Hollywood.” For the second stage, it has been decided that Digital Hollywood will work with Sanjigen to provide another training course called “Sanjigen Hollywood’s Direct Employment Package.” This course aims to cultivate CG animators who will conform to the needs of animation workplaces and to support the creative and expressionistic sides of the Japanese content industry. Commencing on June 29, this “Direct Employment Package” is a combination of Digital Hollywood’s basic 3DCG course, and internships at and hiring interviews with Sanjigen, embodying the alignment of educational institutions like universities with private enterprises.

Hiroaki Matsuura, the company director of Sanjigen, a CG animation production studio specializing in the production of videos with a Japanese-style anime flair, thinks that, “In CG animation as well, we are now in the phase where professionals have to face the issue of cultivating talent. I would like to offer to those aiming to work in the animation world a learning environment where one learns through actual practice, and to create opportunities for them where they can imagine what it is like to work in the field.” These thoughts coincided with the purpose of NAP, thus this course came into being.

With the cooperation of Sanjigen, using the actual character models used in Sanjigen’s CG animation works like Black Rock Shooter, 009 Re:Cyborg, and Wooser’s Hand-to-Mouth Life, actual practical training in CG animation production conforming to the needs of animation workplaces will be conducted within the lectures of this course. There are no conditions for admittance into the course such as age, certifications, computer skills, and the like. The contents of the lectures are aimed at people with no experience in the creative field. There is also no restriction in the number of internships offered after the course. As a rule, all course participants will be given the opportunity to experience practical training at Sanjigen.

Moreover, the “Assistance Program for Animators,” which has the aim of supporting creators who have animation expression techniques unique to Japan to acquire skills and has the aim of further revitalizing animation expression, was set up along with this course. Aimed at people who have actually worked in animation, students from colleges and specialized schools who have received an education in animation production, and at people who have experience in producing their own anime, this program provides a 105,000 yen tuition discount, just like what present and past students of Digital Hollywood have received.

Additionally, it has been decided that a pre-seminar will be held before the commencement of lectures on June 29. Matsuura will have a special lecture titled “Japanese Creators Will Lead the World. What is the Future of CG Animation?”, and other special guests will be invited. To those who are considering applying for the course, and to those interested in the CG animation world, please attend.

Through the commencement of this course, Digital Hollywood is promoting the emergence of new-generation animators who can express animation in 3D CG form and is aiming for a higher level of revitalization of Japan’s content industry.

Course Overview
“Sanjigen Hollywood” Direct Employment Package:
http://school.dhw.co.jp/p/sanzigenhollywood/ (Japanese)

Course Schedule: Every Saturday from June 29, 2013, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
Course Term: 5 months
Internship Period: December 2013 to February 2014 (3 months)
Place of Learning: Digital Hollywood Tokyo School
Number of Participants: 20 (First-come, first-served if the number of applicants are more than 20)
Applicant Restrictions: none (open to all)
Tuition: 472,500 yen (tax included, payment in installments possible)
Benefits: Assistance program for animators, discount for Digital Hollywood students (both benefits amount to a 105,000 yen discount)

Note:
The “Direct Employment Package” refers to a special package that combines lectures at Digital Hollywood and internships at and employment interviews with a corporation. It does not completely guarantee that a student will be hired.

Source:
http://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000625.000000496.html (Japanese)