News

4 Anime Selected for Young Animator Training Project

The Japan Animation Creators Association (JAniCA) announced on Wednesday the four anime works that will each receive 38 million yen (about US$400,000) from the "2010 Young Animator Training Project." The animation labor group received 214.5 million yen (about US$2.27 million) from the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs, and it will distribute most of those funds to studios who will train young animators on-the-job this year.

16 production companies submitted proposal bids for the funds, and Ascension, Telecom Animation Film, P.A. Works, and Production I.G were selected.

The following projects will each receive 38 million yen:

Ascension
Director: Mitsuru Hongo (Spirit of Wonder, Outlaw Star, IGPX)
Producer: Hitoshi Mogi (Crayon Shin-chan films, Haré+Guu, Summer Days with Coo)
Title: "Kizuna Ichigeki" (tentative)

Telecom Animation Film
Director: Teiichi Takiguchi (character designer on Mujin Wakusei Survive, Tide-Line Blue)
Producer: Kōji Takeuchi (Chiko, Heiress of the Phantom Thief, Cybersix, Lupin III: The Fuma Conspiracy)
Title: "O-jii-san no Lamp" (tentative)

P.A. Works
Director: Masayuki Yoshihara (episode director on Eden of the East, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex , .hack//Liminality)
Producer: Kenji Horikawa (Angel Beats!, Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, True Tears)
Title: "Bannō Yasai Ninninman" (tentative)

Production I.G
Director: Kazuchika Kise (character designer on Blue Seed, Bronze: Zetsuai Since 1989, xxxHOLiC)
Producer: Hidekazu Terakawa (Immortal Grand Prix, Jin-Roh - The Wolf Brigade, Tales of Vesperia ~The First Strike~ )
Title: "Tansu Warashi." (tentative)

Production on the four 30-minute original shorts, each with 38 million yen (about US$400,000) for expenses, will launch this June and last for about half a year. The animation production for each short is required to be based in Japan, and professionals will impart their know-how to the young animators through on-the-job training. One of the reasons that the Agency for Cultural Affairs is supporting this initiative is the concern that more of the Japanese animation process is being outsourced overseas — thus leading to a decline in opportunities to teach animation techniques within Japan.

Source: animeanime.biz