The Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music has established a Masters degree graduate school intended to instruct would-be anime filmmakers and movie directors. While Tokyo University and Keio University have included anime as a part of the curriculum, this is the first time it a Japanese university has gone so far as to establish a graduate school with such a major emphasis on anime creation.

The establishment of the school is being hailed as academic recognition of the global popularity of Japanese anime. The new graduate program will feature major fields of study including movies, animation, and media video. Based in Yokohama, the 70-student program is set to begin during the 2005 academic year.

In related news, Tokyo University has announced plans to establish a program intended to raise students able to compete in the global animation and videogame industries. Anime directors Mamoru Oshii and Katsuhiro Otomo, Studio Ghibli Producer Toshio Suzuki, and manga artist Takehiko Inoue have reportedly all been invited to participate as instructors.

Until now, individuals hoping to learn about animation had little choice but to attend minor vocational schools. The rush by Tokyo's prestigious universities to incorporate animation-related curricula is being seen by many as strong evidence of anime's rising position in Japanese culture.

* Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music
* University of Tokyo
* Keio University

* Special Sets * * Reservation in Advance * New in the Shop

Communicate with the masses!

ANIM-ACCESS

• Sign up as a Premier member and get free stuff with your points!